Sat 19 Oct 2019, 15:00
Despite a number of players missing because of injury across the club, the Frome RFC 3rd XV still fielded its strongest team in years - 28 players all wanting game time.
It was a warm dry day at Gypsy Lane and from the kick off Frome quickly put Chard under pressure.
It was a warm dry day at Gypsy Lane and from the kick off Frome quickly put Chard under pressure.
Building as they do, Fromes pack of Dan Chaventre, William Witt, Matt Jones, David Evans, Dan Castle, Steven Ruddick, Max Lund and Stuart Elliott edged Frome closer and closer with each phase towards the Chard try line. With the visitors focused on holding back the pack, it was the backs who would claimed the first try with a quick ball from Andrew Greenwood at Scrum Half to Mark O'Shea at Fly half it was a sleek pass to Fullback Toby Reilly that burst the Chard defence 3 minutes in.
From the kick off Chard held Frome on the half way line and challenged at the ruck before a precise kick from O'Shea sent Elliott on his way through the Chard defence all the way to 5 metres out. Quick thinking from Centres Joe Ryan and Richard Trott secured the ball before Greenwood fed a neat pass to Winger Jamie Smith for Frome’s 2nd score of the day.
The visitors kicked off and were pushing the from defence back, but strong tackles allowed Frome to turn over the ball with Jordan Harding feeding a quick pass to Trott who stepped several defenders before running in for the try.
Frome received the kick off and worked through the phases before a loose ball out of the ruck resulted in Elliott kicking the ball clear. Harding was quickest to react and a foot race with the covering defence meant another chip through saw him gather and score under the post.
Chard continued brave fight and didn’t let up, but a spritely pass from Greenwood allowed Smith to run wide to run in his second try.
Frome brought on replacements with new player Jamie Cooley coming on for some well deserved minutes, as well as Rich Coleman, Rob Parnell and Loukas Ives.
Cooley made an immediate impact, catching Greenwood’s pass and making good ground, narrowly missing On scoring due to a superb covering tackle from the Chard defence.
From the kick off Chard held Frome on the half way line and challenged at the ruck before a precise kick from O'Shea sent Elliott on his way through the Chard defence all the way to 5 metres out. Quick thinking from Centres Joe Ryan and Richard Trott secured the ball before Greenwood fed a neat pass to Winger Jamie Smith for Frome’s 2nd score of the day.
The visitors kicked off and were pushing the from defence back, but strong tackles allowed Frome to turn over the ball with Jordan Harding feeding a quick pass to Trott who stepped several defenders before running in for the try.
Frome received the kick off and worked through the phases before a loose ball out of the ruck resulted in Elliott kicking the ball clear. Harding was quickest to react and a foot race with the covering defence meant another chip through saw him gather and score under the post.
Chard continued brave fight and didn’t let up, but a spritely pass from Greenwood allowed Smith to run wide to run in his second try.
Frome brought on replacements with new player Jamie Cooley coming on for some well deserved minutes, as well as Rich Coleman, Rob Parnell and Loukas Ives.
Cooley made an immediate impact, catching Greenwood’s pass and making good ground, narrowly missing On scoring due to a superb covering tackle from the Chard defence.
David Evans, Dan Castle and Will Witt we’re running hard and creating spaces which was soon taken advantage when Toby Reilly ran through to score.
With half time still 5 minutes away Chards defence was under immense pressure from the kick, Elliott again caught the kick, and off loaded in the tackle to Trott who again burst the Defence for his 2nd try. This was shortly followed up by his third for the day when he gathered a kick and ran back to score.
The second half saw changes with Harding moving to scrum half and Neil George, Mike Perry, Nick Barnes, Alistair Fisher, Sam Woodward, Taylor Blagdon and Mitch Phillip's all coming on.
Chard kicked off and looked to threaten but Frome weathered the Chard attack before working through the phases to clear chard from the Frome half.
It was Harding who popped up to claim the first try of the half which Mark O’Shea converted.
Joshua Harding, fathered the kick off and was able to fend off the defence before going clear to score.
Chard rallied and were proving difficult to break down until Matt Jones intercepted a pass, juggled the ball through the air and ran in a try from just inside the Frome half.
It was Dan Chaventre playing in the unfamiliar role of Fly half who then kicked for the points.
The returning Rich Coleman then made another blistering run from the Frome centres, cutting through the Chard defence and running in his first try of the season.
With Chard determined to score, which their play had deserved, the gaps started to open up and Fromes fresh legs meant that Frome didnt ease up - another try from Harding and a kick converted.
It was a Chaventre kick, collected by Mike Perry which saw the last points of the day as he dotted down.
Final Score:
Frome RFC III 88 - 0 Chard RFC III
The Man of the Match award, sponsored by The Old Bath Arms, Frome went to Rich Trott.
The Man of the Match award, sponsored by The Old Bath Arms, Frome went to Rich Trott.
Huge credit must go to Chard RFC 3rds who made the long journey to Frome and meant that This was the only fixture played in Somerset 3 South as all other teams were HWO with no teams travelling...
The Frome RFC 3rd XV sit comfortably at the top of Tribute Somerset 3 South with their next fixture on Saturday away against Cheddar Valley RFC II.
(Match report by Richard James)
