MINEHEAD Barbarians began a punishing weekend schedule with a disappointing 23-10 away defeat in the Tetley Bitter Vase at the hands of league rivals Wells.

In a game lacking in fast, flowing rugby, Wells edged it in the forwards but Minehead did themselves no favours either.

Wells took the lead with a penalty early on after Minehead were caught offside in a ruck, and kept the pressure on with kicks into the corners.

The turning point came when C Lock and C Hirons were sent to the sin bin in quick succession and the difference in numbers told immediately.

The resulting Wells penalty from the latter offence saw the home team score an unconverted push-over try and minutes later, missed tackles in the backs allowed Wells' scrum-half to run over.

By the time Lock and Hirons returned to the fray, Minehead were reeling at 13-0 down.

C Jackson went close with a penalty, and just before the break Minehead made a smooth move in the line, D Webber unfortunate to knock on.

In the second half, J Huston and Jackson both made good breaks, and when Webber was sent clear on his wing he made no mistake to claw back a vital foothold in the match.

Just as Minehead looked to break again, this time from their own 22, Hirons knocked on and the move died.

D Bishop appeared to be stamped on and couldn't continue, so a reshuffle saw captain Lock move to scrum-half and veteran D Hurley enter the fray as a flanker.

Wells' fly-half added to the misery with a drop goal from outside the 22, but Minehead, downtrodden but not yet defeated, made good in-roads with running moves from successive penalties and once in the Wells 22, Hurley tapped to Jackson on a good running line and he charged past all challenges to touch down.

At 16-10 down, Minehead saw a chance to go for victory, and as Hirons broke and ran half the pitch it looked likely, but the final break wouldn't come.

The home team finished the game off with a breakaway try and conversion in the last minute, and Minehead will now look to exact their revenge on Wells when the teams again meet away, this time in the league.

St Brendons 7

Minehead 18

A home draw against Taunton awaits Minehead after an 18-7 win at Bristol side St Brendons on Sunday in the Somerset Matthew Clark Cup.

Showing strength in depth, Minehead fielded a youthful team in the rain and mud, but these players proved their worth with a solid performance.

Particularly impressive were M Lawrence and D Swann, both out of position in the second row, J White in the line outs, D Robinson's crunching tackles and C Thorne at full back.

J Huston kicked an early penalty and first half tries by L Browne and D Webber set Minehead on their way.

After the break, St Brendons pulled back a converted try, but the result was sealed when J Healey went over in the corner.