11/10/2026
Match Report | Boys U16s
Frome RFC U16s find their stride against a determined Chard…
On Sunday, Frome U16 Boys travelled south to face Chard in their third league match of the season, looking to turn a promising start into a first win.
Chard have endured a difficult build-up to the season, losing players to neighbouring clubs, and this was their first competitive outing.
Frome, meanwhile, arrived on the back of a draw against Midsomer Norton and defeat to Bristol Quins, but with signs that the work put in during pre-season was beginning to bear fruit.
It was Chard who started brightest, competing hard at the breakdown and disrupting Frome’s early possession. The visitors soon found their rhythm, however. A quickly taken penalty just inside the Chard 22 saw Seth break through the middle before popping the ball neatly into the “bread basket” for Ryan, who charged through the remaining defence to score under the posts. Seth added the conversion.
Chard wasted no time responding. From broken play and with quick hands, they found a gap in Frome’s defensive line and crossed for a converted try to bring the scores level at 7–7.
Frome hit back within minutes. A wayward pass, collected by Olly on the move was finished well in the far-left corner to restore the lead. And another shortly after from Ryan dissecting Chard’s defence with precision.
Chard continued to come at Frome, but the visitors’ defence held firm. More importantly, Frome’s forwards began to take control, winning turnovers and providing the quick ball that allowed the backs to play with increasing freedom.
Pressure from the set piece then created another opportunity. From a lineout, Isaac pierced the Chard defensive line before touching down in the left corner, his first ever try, in only his third game of rugby.
Frome continued to build momentum as half-time approached. Olly produced a blistering charge, breaking multiple tackles before crossing in the left corner, while Harry also got his name on the scoresheet after reacting quickest to an errant pass in midfield.
By the break, Frome were firmly in control.
If Chard were hoping half-time might take some of the sting out of the visitors, Frome had other ideas.
A well-timed wiper kick from Seth gave Olly the opportunity to cross in the right corner and complete his hat-trick.
Despite the growing deficit, Chard refused to fold. Their defence remained committed and physical, forcing Frome to work for their opportunities. But the visitors were now playing with real fluency. Quick recycling and increasingly confident multi-phase rugby repeatedly stretched the Chard defensive line.
One of the best passages of the match saw Fergus caught in the tackle but manage to release the ball to Lucas, who cut through the retreating Chard defence, stepped the inside centre and crossed just to the left of the posts. Fergus quickly added the conversion.
To their considerable credit, Chard’s heads never dropped. Despite the scoreline, they remained positive and continued looking for opportunities to attack. Their persistence was rewarded when a well-judged cross-field kick from a penalty created the space for a second try under the posts.
Frome, though, were not finished.
Moments later, another ambitious wiper kick from Seth in broken play almost found Johnny before Lewis gathered the ball and crossed for his first ever try.
The final word came from the forwards. From a well-executed lineout just inside the Chard five-metre line, the Frome pack drove strongly towards the line before Johnny picked from the maul and touched down in the left corner.
The final score reflected a dominant Frome performance, but perhaps more important than the margin was the manner of it. Three games into the season, the patterns practised in pre-season are beginning to appear under match pressure: stronger set pieces, quicker recycling, better support and, increasingly, the confidence to move the ball and create opportunities across the pitch.
For Chard, it was a difficult first outing against a Frome side gathering momentum, but the scoreline does not tell the whole story. They competed from the opening whistle to the last, defended with determination and, even with the game beyond reach, continued to attack and were rewarded for doing so.
For Frome, after a draw, a defeat and now a convincing first win, the direction of travel is beginning to look very promising.
And, judging by the celebrations, some of them already know it.
Tries from:
Olly x 3
Isaac
Johnny
Lewis
Harry
Ryan x 2
Lucas
Chard votes MOTM - Isaac
Coaches MOTM - Harry
📸 Ben Woolley
🔴⚪️⚫️ | |
