Western Counties (W)

Wadebridge 50, Chard 12

After their fine win against Tiverton last week Chard had a day to forget against Wadebridge when they conceded four tries in each half against a home team who were a much better outfit on the day and have now leapfrogged Chard in the table, writes Glyn Hughes.

Chard were guilty of several really basic errors in the first half and the well drilled home backs were in no mood to spurn the opportunities offered to them.

Chard were not helped by one late arrival and the loss of some players due to injury and unavailability.

Despite this, they did field a strong team albeit with several players having to play out of position and with only two on the bench.

Chard actually started the game positively and could well have scored themselves but, with their first excursion into the Chard half, Wadebridge fly half Danny Thomas dummied his way through a gap far too very easily and scored a try under the posts which he converted himself.

At times, Chard gave as good as they got but two bits of poor tackling and failure to clear a kick into their 22 area cost them three more tries with these coming from Shawn Hartley, Will Pengelly and Darren Livett.

Thomas converted all three and Chard were 28 points behind. Four mistakes, four converted tries!

Chard just could not seem to cope with the strong and aggressive running rugby of the home team, whose policy has always been to run the ball wide as often as possible whenever an opportunity arises.

Chard competed in the set scrums but were well under par in the lineouts and lost most of their own ball.

In the final moments of the half, however, Chard showed that they too could make the most of silly errors and a timely interception by Ben Thomas gave him the opportunity to score an unconverted try in the corner.

The problem with being so far behind is that in the hope of getting back into the game a team feels forced into the sort of plays they wouldn’t normally attempt and basic mistakes get made.

These led, directly or indirectly, to Wadebridge scoring four further tries in the second half.

Dicky Dawes (2), Matt Ballard and full-back Cody Armstrong were the beneficiaries, with two of the tries converted.

Although it was a bad day at the office, there were certainly positives for Chard, particularly the play of Emile Szdelko, Huw Edwards, Billy Brooks and skipper Matt Tinley.

Wadebridge looked uncomfortable when they were under pressure and, late in the game, Brooks broke through for a fine opportunist try which was converted by Thomas.

Chard team:- Szydelko, Edwards, Thomas, Brooks, Mainwaring, Crouch, Nicholls, Mustchin, Robinson, Aplin, Tinley, Moore, Elliot, Wright, D Biss; Replacements: Stead, Hendy (both used)

Chard play their last game before the festive break when they entertain Bideford next Saturday (2.30pm).