CHARD lost 29-9 at home to Exmouth in National League 3 (SW) on Saturday but for much of the game it was a much more evenly contested match than the final scoreline suggests, writes Glyn Hughes.

Exmouth started the stronger but the Chard defence was good. And although they did concede an early penalty, somehow the visitors managed to miss a very straight-forward kick.

Almost immediately Chard cleared their lines with a long kick down field and when Exmouth conceded a penalty Mike Lawton, the Chard backs’ player/coach, made no mistake to put Chard ahead.

Chard full-back Bryan Harrison was then binned, apparently for being in a deliberate offside position. Both sides exchanged penalties with Lawton again being successful for Chard.

Lawton would then put Chard 9-3 ahead with another successful kick but just before the interval Chard were guilty of anticipating the referee’s whistle instead of playing to it.

Everybody in the crowd, and many of the Chard players, spotted what they thought was a clear knock-on by Exmouth.

But while Chard stopped momentarily Exmouth continued playing and ran through to score a converted try under the posts which gave the visitors a 10-9 advantage at the break.

The first lesson in any team game is to play the whistle, not the rules.

Once again Chard had played really well for much of the first half, with the forwards again being very impressive, but when your luck is out everything appears to go against you.

To add to their woes Chard had gone into the game without the services of injured flanker Jason Wright and their most consistent performer in the back division, Ben Stead, who suffered a broken thumb in the previous week’s game which could keep him out for some time.

Chard coach Steve Broome felt that events early in the second half had a big bearing on the final outcome of the game.

There was what could be called some ‘hanky panky’ going on in the scrums – and despite there being several players involved in an eventual bust-up – the referee saw fit to yellow card Chard forward Louis Barlett who had seemingly been acting as peacemaker.

Exmouth took full advantage of their extra man and a second converted try put them 17-9 ahead.

The visitors were now well on top and it was no real surprise when they crossed for a third try.

They were probably also geed up by the news that that had filtered through that leaders Redingensians were losing at Bracknell.

Chard’s cause was not helped when Lawton was yellow carded for a technical offence.

As Lawton left the field the yellow card was changed to red for apparently using inappropriate language.

This was the final straw as far as Chard were concerned. Exmouth got the bonus point they were looking for when they scored a fourth try late in the game with a scorching break downfield which gave them a comfortable looking win.

Chard played really well in the first half but things fell apart somewhat in the second and not surprisingly they paid a heavy price against a side looking to get promoted back into National League two at the first attempt. You just cannot play a third of a game at this level with a player in the bin.

At the end of the game Chard scrum-half and utility back Jonny Selway – who has lost his starting place to the emerging Ben Johnson in recent weeks – informed Broome of his decision to seek pastures new and he is expected to join Exmouth.

Selway has been a good and committed player for the club so Chard will be sorry to see him go.

Chard: Harrison, Lawton, Douglas, Helliar, Harding, Twigg, Johnson, Parsons (capt) Mortensen, Burnell, Henly, Gosden, Hyslop, Barlett, Aplin. Replacements: Selway, Robinson (both used)and Caddick.

n Chard 2nds beat Yatton 2nds 10-0 in Somerset Division 1.

The 3rd XV’s home match against Yatton 3rds was postponed because of the state of the pitch but will be replayed this Saturday.