Sat 9 Oct 2021, 15:00
WESTER COUNTIES WEST
CHARD 53PTS FALMOUTH 0PTS
By Glyn Hughes
Chard made it four wins from four home matches so far this season with this nine try victory over their Cornish opponents.
They have now scored more points than any other team in terms of points scored in home matches thus far.
Certainly a big win for Chard in front of a 200+ crowd with conditions as near perfect as they could be but the score line although clearly reflecting Chards superiority does not in any way tell how well and competitively Falmouth played for nearly three quarters of the game. Falmouth ran out of steam in the final 15minutes and conceded five tries during this late stage of the game.
Chard were on top from the off and within a few minutes Hooker David Morton scored the first try when following a kick to the corner Chard won the lineout and no one was stopping the impressive Morton from scoring an unconverted try. 5-0
Chard were already looking much the better side but they were unable to add to their score until much later in the half. Good defensive tackling by the Falmouth lads aided by some mistakes caused by the over eagerness of their players kept the sore at 5nil until past the half hour mark. In addition the Falmouth team were always looking to play open running rugby and Chard had to be on their guard.
After 32 minutes Chard went further ahead when Ryan Helliar made the most of a mistake by Falmouth who when attempting to run from deep lost possession in their 22 and there was no way Helliar was going to miss out on the gift offered. The conversion was again missed but Chard had doubled their lead.. 10-0
Shortly before the break Jack Elliot got Chards third try which was converted by Niall Crouch to give the hosts a 17nil advantage at the break.
Falmouth had their best spell immediately after the break and pinned Chard back close to their own line but after a few scares Chard successfully kept them out.
Chard player/ Coach Ben Thomas was playing his first competitive game of the season in the unfamiliar number 9 shirt but he had a good game by simply sticking to the basics and moving the ball out wide at every opportunity.
Chard rotated their squad with Jack Oaten and Matt Tinley coming on early in the second half for Dan Goetz and Huw Edwards.
Midway through the half the game went to uncontested scrums after a visiting player was injured and many thought that this might be a disadvantage to Chard but the opposite turned out to be the case. At the same time Goetz came back on for skipper Luke Aplin who had also taken a knock.
Emile Szydelko added the bonus point after 60 minutes with another one of his devastating runs and although the conversion was missed Chard led 22nil and the contest was effectively over as far as Falmouth were concerned.
With Falmouth visibly tiring after giving so much the flood gates opened in the final 12minutes with Chard running in five further tries. The tries came from Billy Brooks following a brilliant run by Elliot, Ben Fenton who made the most of a defence splitting break run from Max Gosden. Thomas, Jack Oaten and impressive winger Lewis Hole. Crouch added three conversions to take the final points tally to 53 which did not look likely for most of the game. The situation also allowed director of rugby Jon Hendy to come on for a cameo appearance
Chard have a set of fast , elusive backs who when they get it right are great to watch and this was all Falmouth were able to do in the dying minutes.
There is no league fixture for Chard next Saturday and the 1st xv will next be in action when they travel to Honiton on 23rd October.
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