MINEHEAD Barbarians Under 15s played Bridgwater at the weekend and entertained the home crowd with a convincing 46-7 victory.

Bridgwater were outplayed in every area and couldn't cope with the powerful drives from the home side's forwards and the hard skilful running of the backs.

After a two-week festive break, Minehead were slow to start but soon found the right gear and really picked up the pace in the second half, running in four more tries.

Strong scrummaging and excellent lineout play had the visitors constantly on the back foot.

Minehead's defence was watertight until the last minute, when a fine solo run from the Bridgwater centre finally broke their duck.

The whole Minehead team could feel very satisfied with their play but excellent individual performances from Greg Kendal, Edward Grigg, Troy Hopwood, Tom Knight and Dean Langdon contributed to a superb win.

l Minehead Under 13s entertained Bridgwater on Sunday and put in a performance of rear grit and skill despite narrowly losing 36-31.

They kicked off and kept Bridgwater penned in their own half for the first five minutes and eventually their determined forwards won excellent ball in the loose and spun the ball out for winger Bradley Huphries to round the opposition to score under the posts. Robert Webber converted.

Bridgwater hit back with their own well-worked try two minutes later but this was unconverted and Minehead retained a narrow lead.

The match was then stopped for an injury to scrum half Oliver Thomas and on the resumption Bridgwater scored a further try from turnover ball to take a 10-7 lead.

Man of the match Humphries restored Minehead's lead with an excellent weaving run, the try again converted by Webber, but again Bridgwater hit back with a converted try to lead 17-14 at half-time.

Early in the second half Bridgwater scored two tries, one of which was converted, to race to a 29-14 lead.

Minehead didn't allow their heads to drop and a determined drive from No 8 Sam White brought another try, again converted by Webber, but a further converted Bridgwater try restored their 15 point advantage with five minutes to go.

Still Minehead continued to attack with real purpose and scored two further tries through Humphries and Webber, the second converted by Webber, to leave them within five points of the Bridgwater total.

For a moment it looked as though Minehead could snatch victory, but they ran out of time.

l Minehead Under 12s went to Bridgwater on Sunday and beat a mixture of U11s and U12s 31-21.

With the wind in their favour, Bridgwater showed their ability to do basics well but went behind when a loose ball was picked up by Mullet who went over. Bland converted.

This spurred Bridgwater to two good tries, but the experienced Giblett seized on a ball and rounded the defence with ease, only for Bridgwater to hit back with another try and take a lead into half-time.

The second half saw Bridgwater on the defensive, and with Edmunds and Bland combining well at half-back, they were pinned back by some deft kicking.

The experience and power of Milton brought him two tries and a further one came from Giblett after a quick dart from the scrum-half position.

Webber showed great tenacity on the wing but man of the match went to David Bland for excellent defence, kicking and counter attack.

Although Minehead won, they were playing a side nearly all from the age group below them and need all members to train regularly to regain continuity.

l Minehead Under 10s had always found Bridgwater a difficult place to get a result but despite recent history they came away with a 45-35 win on Sunday.

The first half belonged to Minehead as they ran in eight tries to Bridgwater's two, and although the second half saw a reversal of fortunes, the home side couldn't get back on terms.

The game opened with attacking runs from Davis and Coleman, and an excellent forward drive by S Gould saw the prop cross the line but he couldn't touch the ball down. The five-metre scrum was won by Minehead and Reed rounded the defence to score.

Minehead's joy was short-lived as Bridgwater drove up field and scored in the corner.

From the restart Reed fed Maclean who made good ground before being bundled into touch. Coleman's palm from the lineout was caught by Reed and he ran in for his second try.

Minehead's big forwards took the game to Bridgwater and the recycled ball was passed out to Maclean whose well-weighted pass enabled Reed to cross the try line again.

Reed then broke from a scrum, won against the put in, to add to his tally.

Tackles were going in thick and fast but Bridgwater couldn't break Minehead's defensive line to reduce the deficit, and it was the visitors who extended their lead when Coleman ran straight through the home defence like a runaway train.

Bridgwater were soon back on the attack but Minehead relieved the pressure by winning lineout ball and, spreading the play through the backs, Beaver was able to run out of defence. From a scrum Ansell drove into the defensive line and his slipped pass to Bailey created the space for the wing to run in the team's sixth try.

Superb inter-passing took Minehead deep into the Bridgwater half and from a lineout Swann picked up the loose ball and hurtled into the opposition.

Great mauling play ended with Gould being pushed into touch just short of the Bridgwater line and from the throw, Minehead drove the defence backwards and disjointed play enabled Swann to swoop and score.

The final action of the half saw an 'off colour' Ansell break several tackles to score his customary try.

Minehead thought it was all over but Bridgwater were a different team in the second half. Straight from the restart they were at Minehead and were only stopped from scoring by the massed ranks of defenders as they were driven into touch.

Howveer, a scrum near the Minehead line was won by Bridgwater and they smashed through to score.

The visitors tried to counter through Reed and Stone but possession was regained by the home team and another try was scored.

With their tails up Bridgwater scored again following a scrum and drive. Minehead responded with their only try of the half following a fine diagonal run from Hurley, but Bridgwater came back with another try.

Minehead were now on the back foot, and tired legs, especially in the forwards, were given little respite despite the efforts of Swann and Davis.

Bridgwater camped on the Minehead line and Reed, in a valiant attempt to run out of defence, was engulfed by Bridgwater players, one of whom touched down for a try in the final action of the match.

It was perhaps unfair that one team had to lose after such a good match, but at the end of the day Minehead's superior display in the first half made the difference.

l Minehead U8s played at Bridgwater on Sunday and once again two teams could be fielded.

Team A, consisting of the older players, started poorly and conceded a try in the first minute.

But they licked their wounds and sorted their positions, and a hard match ensued, with Minehead camping in the Bridgwater half for the entire match, as they won 35-5.

Minehead B attacked well in their match but Bridgwater were no walkover and an even game ended with Minehead winning 20-10. the margin would have been greater if a number of tries had not been disallowed.

Players were Josh Smith, Vyvyan Toth, Sam Nunn, Daniel Darrell, Trent Hopwood, Josh Searle, Sam Baker, Mathew Sharpe, Tim Edmunds, Luke Gould, Harri-Fletcher Price, Eli Hayes, Mark Bryant.