CHARD A men’s team have already built up a five point lead in the Yeovil and district league under the new captaincy of Peter Dixon.

Only promoted to division two last season, the team already look to be heading back to the top division five years after last being there.

Having lost only one rubber out of a possible 12 from their first three matches, the consistent team so far of Harry Gawen, James Payne, Jack Whitehead and Dixon have made a superb start.

With difficult weeks ahead due to players other commitments, the core team and reserves will have to dig deep to continue the current form.

However with the raw talent of Payne, the competitiveness of Gawen, the quick learning of Whitehead and the natural ability of Dixon, Chard A should soon be back where they belong playing the best teams in the area.

Chard B have gone top of division five by one point following a win at Wincanton.

They travelled without Gawen, called into the A team, as well as Peter Key, Ben Porter and Nigel Beale. But old stager Andrew Spiller was drafted in to partner his old sparring mate Keith Porter and the wily pair steadied the ship after the recent 8-2 mauling at the hands of Charmouth.

Spiller was at his best with countless scintillating passes down the line, with the pair comfortably winning the first match 6-2, 6-2.

The Wincanton first pair took veteran John Selby and Jono Beckett apart 6-0, 6-2, but were shell shocked when Spiller and Porter further raised their game to win the first set 6-0. Meanwhile Selby and Beckett recovered their composure with an impressive 6-1, 6-0 win against Wincanton’s second pair.

Hearing that early result, Spiller and Porter cruised home 6-3, giving Chard an 8-2 victory.