DAREN Chard said he cannot believe how well the season has gone so far after hooking up with Church Stretton.

Chard was one of four players who decided to leave Ludlow to join their home town club for their debut campaign as an affiliated RFU league side. Stretton are riding high at the top of Midlands 5 West (North) having only lost one game all season and are also in the semi-finals of the North Midlands Vase Plate.

“It has been going really well and it is a great club to be part of,” said Chard.

“The opportunity to play for your home town club is a massive one and I couldn’t turn it down.

“Myself, my brother Tom, Phil Parkes, George Bagley and Nick Morris also joined and it has been fantastic.”

Chard said that, although he believed the team would be able to hold their own in the division, he did not think they would be doing as well as they are.

“The aim was just to regularly get a team out, but it has gone better than that,” said Chard.

“The response from the town has also been phenomenal.

“Between 200 and 250 people watch us and the club has grown really quickly.

“We also have under-17 and under-18 teams and they are both flying high in their leagues.

“It has been phenomenal.”

Chard acknowledges that the team face a tough challenge in maintaining their form going into the New Year.

“Our first loss was a couple of weeks ago, but we had a lot of injuries for that game,” said Chard.

“We just have to make sure that we put wins together against the top four teams.

“Our aim first and foremost is get promoted, either as winners or runners-up, and try and win the cup.

“If we do that, it will be a fantastic achievement.”

Chard added that he will always be thankful for what Ludlow did for his career.

“I was there for six or seven seasons, but left mid-way through last season because of the politics at the club,” said Chard.

“But it is a great club and I will always be grateful for what they did for me.”

Last Saturday, Chard’s brother Nathan was remembered in a memorial match between Church Stretton and Bishops Castle.

Played on a very cold and snowy afternoon, Stretton welcomed new players Toby Ward, John Ahnfeldt and Jim Tom into the fold.

The game began in difficult conditions as snow and sleet drove across the pitch.

Bishops Castle attempted to exert their superior size and forced the first scrum deep in the Stretton half.

But, with the Chard brothers in the front row, the Samurai rose to the challenge and turnover ball was achieved.

Ahnfeldt and centre Joe Collins made early inroads into the Castle half and the early pressure was rewarded with Ward kicking over a penalty.

Ward then increased the lead when he cut through the Castle midfield and scored under the posts, with his try being converted.

Deteriorating weather conditions meant the game was reduced to 30 minutes each way, but Stretton managed to score again before the break when Ben Speake crashed over.

Tom Ward then set up his brother Toby tto score another try to make it 22-0 before Castle got a consolation.