THIS comfortable win by the home side in the second round of the Somerset Vase means they progress to the quarter final stage having played only the one match - a situation about which Somerset County RFU are concerned due to the number of cry offs in both this competition and the County Cup.

The visitors were an honourable exception to this problem as they battled throughout the whole eighty minutes to provide a test to the Chiefs who took the chance to introduce a number of players pushing for inclusion in the Firsts on a more regular basis.

The home side dominated from the start however and were awarded a penalty try with just five minutes gone as their pack were pulled down in a scrum by the visitors on their own five yard line as they were reversing at a rate of knots. Fly half Matt Parsons converted.

A second try followed four minutes later when Ben Williams scampered away from the defence to score in the corner. He then crossed again twice in the next ten minutes to record his hat trick within the first quarter of the match with Parsons converting one of these.

The fly half then went on to get the next five-pointer when he rejoined a move after having treatment for a slight thigh strain as play continued to pop up on the wing and go over.

The half ended with Captain Tim Jenkinson getting onto the score sheet as he got away from a ruck in front of the posts with Parsons adding the extras.

The Castle Cary side restarted the game in such a manner as to ensure they bore no resemblance to their nickname "The Chickens" and there certainly was none. They held out the home side as they upped their work rate and commitment and it wasn't until half way through the half that full back Mike Stanyard went through for a try that centre Mark Nichols converted that the score moved on.

Once the resistance had been broken, however, more points came, albeit at a slower rate than in the first half as the home side made changes.

Ex Colts Captain Alan Jarman found the space to outstrip the cover, as did Nichols who also converted Jarman's try.

Finally second team skipper Simon Cottrell who had come on for Ted Keeble was driven over from five metres out as the dominant home pack, in which the back row of Simon Bellamy, Chris Kitto and Gareth Hodgson were outstanding, set up a maul.

The never say die attitude of the visitors nearly got them a try at the end as they exerted some pressure up front and nearly got over the line themselves but the home defence was simply too organised and committed to allow that to happen but it summed up an excellent match in which both sides played their full part.

Next week's matches: The First XV return to league action in the Cornwall & Devon division with a home game against Saltash, which is being preceded by a Vice Presidents lunch with the game also being financially supported by them for which the Club is extremely grateful.

The Seconds travel to Martock for their next match in Somerset Two (South).

The Thirds are at home to table toppers Chew Valley in Somerset Three (South) with this match being generously sponsored by Derek Hodgson.