CHARD were again hit by injury and unavailability problems on Saturday and lost 36-7 at Weston in National league 3 (SW), writes Glyn Hughes.

The team that ran out put in a good shift but were outplayed and no-one could deny that the home side thoroughly deserved to win.

Chard had an absolutely disastrous start when an intended clearance kick from Mike Lawton was charged down by Weston flanker Shaun Eaton who scored in the corner after only 26 seconds. Fly- half Chris Young converted.

Some loose tackling allowed Weston’s other flanker, Paul Morrissey, to get try No2 with Young again converting.

Chard, as against Barnstaple a few weeks ago, found themselves 14pts down with the game in its infancy.

Chard did then get into the game a little but the worrying thing for them was that for the first real time this season they were struggling up front in both the loose and the tight and this would clearly affect the control they had over the ball.

Weston increased their lead with their third try when scrum half Hayden Tuttiet went over but this time the conversion was missed.

Chard then had their best spell of the game and showed what they could do when they got themselves into a good position.

Weston were driven backwards and prop Luke Aplin spotted a gap in the home defence and scored a fine try.

Lawton converted and the signs at this time were that Chard could possibly get back into the game.

However not for the first time this season Chard conceded a try from the last play of the half when some slack tackling allowed centre Harry Jones to cross to leave the score 24-7.

In the second half Chard were clearly chasing the game and when this is the case the heart often rules the head.

Chard were guilty of what appeared from the touchline to be some strange decision-making but as everybody knows the game is much easier for the spectators than the players.

Chard were struggling to win both scrum and line-out ball and conceded two more tries when they had clear possession turned over.

By now the rampant Weston pack were having a field day and set up two further tries to put the game out of sight as far as Chard were concerned.

Chard: Stead, Mays, Harrison, Lawton, Massey (J), Douglas, Selway, Biss, Robinson, Aplin, Henley, Gosden, Wright, Parsons (capt), Twigg. Replacements: Tinley, Sugar and Johnson (all used).