Winscombe have to settle for losing bonus point in defeat to fellow strugglers Chard

PUBLISHED: 15:00 07 January 2019

Jim Rutherford attacks for Winscombe against Chard (pic John Podpadec)

Archant

Winscombe had to settle for a losing bonus point after a 27-20 defeat at fellow strugglers Chard in the Tribute Western Counties West League.

Cameron Vapes attacks for Winscombe against Chard (pic John Podpadec)

The visitors began brightly and opened the scoring with a penalty from centre Sam Dearsley after Chard infringed at the breakdown in their 22.

But the home side quickly set up camp in Winscombe’s end and, after a period of sustained pressure, hooker Joe Mainwaring crashed over from close range.

The conversion was missed and the two sides then traded penalties, as Dearsley’s second effort from long range was answered by Niall Crouch from in front of the posts.

As half-time approached, it appeared as if Chard would take a narrow lead into the break, but they failed to deal with the restart and Winscombe too advantage of a five-metre scrum to move the ball quickly to winger Cameron Lapes, who drove to the line and twisted out of a tackle to touch down.

James Flower attacks for Winscombe against Chard (pic John Podpadec)

Dearsley’s conversion put Winscombe 13-8 up, but Chard dominated the start of the second half with a series of short-range drives, only to come up against some dogged defence.

The pressure eventually told as Mainwaring went in for his second try and Crouch converted to put Chard 15-13 up.

Two more Chard tries, from prop Dave Biss and wing Douglas Herbert, saw the gap grow to two full scores, but Winscombe had the better of the closing stages and flanker Andy Ball drove over in the corner before Dearsley’s conversion cut the gap to seven points.

After regaining possession from the restart, Winscombe again pressed for a score to draw level, moving the ball across the pitch in search of a gap in the home defence.