CHARD produced their best performance of the season on Saturday but a try six minutes into injury time saw them beaten 31-27 at home by Brixham, writes Glyn Hughes.

Chard had to settle for a losing bonus point but this display will give everyone at the club a lot of encouragement and with more players gradually returning from injury there was plenty to suggest that Chard can be very optimistic about the remainder of the season.

Brixham looked confident in their warm-up routines.

But they were swiftly brought down to earth when from their first attack Chard drove the visiting forwards backwards and No8 Rob Burnell crashed over for a fine forwards try which centre Mike Laughton converted from the touchline.

Brixham looked a strong unit and they quickly took the game to Chard who found themselves pinned back in their own half for some time.

However Chard defended heroically and despite the pressure and several possible kickable penalties Brixham were unable to cross the Chard line and the hosts maintained their lead.

Chard missed a penalty attempt after 36 minutes but a few minutes later – and with what would turn out to be the last play of the half – Chard scored a second try thanks to some superb individual play from Laughton.

Chard won the ball inside the visitors’ and when the ball was passed swiftly down the line Laughton chipped the on- rushing defence and then re- gathered the ball to score a brilliant try under the posts.

He added the conversion and Chard held a 14 point advantage at the break.

Brixham responded well in the second half and pinned Chard back with a penalty to the corner.

They immediately reduced the deficit with a catch and drive try from Poulson. Lovell converted.

Chard got three points back from the boot of Laughton but from the re-start Brixham scored their second try with Matt Crosscombe going over for an unconverted effort and Chard also had a player sent to the bin for illegal play.

Brixham took advantage of playing against 14 men and their forwards set up a converted try for prop Declan Sexton which put the visitors in the lead for the first time.

In a thoroughly entertaining game, Laughton got Chard back in front with a penalty goal and then converted a try he scored himself having outpaced the Brixham defence who failed to deal with a long kick down field.

With time running out Brixham got another typical forwards try in the corner and from the restart went all out for a win.

They could have equalled things up with a possible penalty attempt but chose to go for the the line and were rewarded with a converted try in the sixth minute of added on time causing heartbreak for Chard’s players and supporters alike.

This was a great game for the neutrals and Chard certainly fully deserved the huge ovation they got at the end from their supporters.

Chard: Harrison, Stead, Douglas, Laughton, Mays, Hayward, Selway, Burnell, Wright, Helliar, Parsons (Capt), Mortensen, Aplin, Robinson, Biss. Replacements: J Massey, B Sugar, A Henley.