Sat 29 Jan 2022, 14:30
đź“ť Match Report đź“ť
Western counties west
Falmouth 31pts Chard 27pts
from Glyn Hughes
A last minute try from centre Ben Fenton ensured Chard got two bonus points but in truth they will be very disappointed not to have won this game and their poor run so far in 2022 goes on.
Falmouth were without any doubt a much better side than the one trounced at Chard earlier in the season but not for the first time Chard in some ways were architects of their own down fall.
They conceded at least 13 penalties in the first half and most of them could not be argued with. As a result Chard needlessly surrendered a number of good attacking positions and two of the penalties conceded in their own half were converted by Falmouth skipper Tom Spiller which in the end was the difference.
Poor game management and some dodgy tackling at times didn’t help their cause either but the effort of the players could not be faulted.
Chard started the game superbly and a flowing move ended with Lewis Hole going over in the corner for an unconverted try in the opening minute
Falmouth moved 6-5 ahead with the two kicks but midway though the half scrum half Ross Colenso sneaked over for a clever try converted by Niall Crouch. 6-12
Falmouth moved clear with two tries and with one being converted led by 18-12.
However Chard moved back into the lead just before the interval when Colenso scored his second of the afternoon and with the extras being added by Crouch Chard led 19-18 at half time.
Crouch increased Chard’s lead with a penalty in the opening minute of the second period.
Chard were dominant in the set pieces with skipper Luke Aplin and Jack Elliot playing superbly but despite destroying Falmouth in the scrums the referee didn’t appear to be doing Chard any favours in that few if any scrum penalties were awarded against the hosts during the game.
Chard were now dominant and looked as if they would go on and win but the game turned on its head in an instant when just as they looked certain to score the ball somehow popped out straight into the hands of the home winger who ran the entire length of the field to score. A shell shocked Chard team then quickly conceded another penalty and a try but Fenton’s late score at least earned Chard the two bonus points.
Falmouth are a really good club and the hospitality given to all the players and the many supporters who travelled down to Cornwall was first class.
With the possibility of the leagues being re organised next season one wonders when and if this fixture will happen again.
A good day out despite the result!
Next Saturday Chard are away at Bideford kick off 2 30 in what is a
re-arranged fixture
Chard 2nd xv were given a walkover and five points as Minehead were unable to raise a side.
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