IN conditions more suitable for cricket Chard got their Premier League season underway with a good all round performance against a more than useful Tor side who last season had been one of the top dogs in this league.

Things did not start too well for Chard however with the non appearance of one of their front row players and then going on to concede an unconverted try in the opening minutes of the game.

They were exposed down the blind side by a quick break from the visitors scrum half and although he was stopped close to the line Tor spread the ball wide from an ensuing scrummage and crossed the Chard line for the first score of the game.

Chard however responded immediately and from the kick-off drove Tor back to their own line where they conceded a five-metre scrum.

A knock on at a crucial time denied Chard an immediate score but further pressure turned over possession in their favour and full-back Ben Stead came into the line to score in the corner.

With frontline kicker Nicholls sidelined with injury Chard skipper James Twigg took over responsibility and converted with a superb touchline effort to put his side in front after only ten minutes play.

The game was very even at this time and the visitors looked certain to score another try but centre Ben King made a timely interception close to his own line. King raced to the half way line before looking for support in the shape of Stead who held off the defensive cover and went over for his second score of the day. Twigg stroked the ball beautifully to add the extras.

Chard were denied a third try because of a forward pass and generally speaking things were fairly evenly contested for much of the remainder of the half with good defensive play from both sides to the fore.

However Chard increased their lead with two excellent penalty kicks from the golden boot of Twigg the second of which was from well over 40 metres out and Chard held a comfortable 20pts-5 advantage at the interval.

This was well deserved because they had capitalised on the opportunities presented to them far better than the opposition.

Chard were put under some pressure in the early stages of the second half and after having their scrum disrupted Tor took advantage and went over for a converted try under the posts.

Just as if it looked as if Tor would get right back in to the game Chard won a penalty, kicked to the corner and from the lineout drove the maul over the visitors line with not surprisingly Chard hooker Jon Hendy coming up with the ball. Twigg added the extras with another excellent kick to put his side 27pts-12 ahead.

In the last quarter Chard suffered a setback when their srcum-half Richard Jones reacted to some shirt pulling and threw a punch which resulted in the referee asking him to leave the field.

Twigg who was clearly man of the match took over at scrum half and although conceding a penalty Chard increased their lead when David Lane beat the defensive cover with a nice outside break to score Chard fourth try of the game which surprisingly on his form during the match Twigg failed to convert.

Tor’s efforts were rewarded with a last minute try but Chard deservedly took the plaudits and the points before enjoying the clubhouse hospitality.