Minehead Barbarians 29

Oldfield OBs 5

After a disappointing weekend last week, there were smiles aplenty at Ellicombe on Saturday. Minehead colts were playing on one pitch, with the 1st XV next door, both teams supported by a big Ellicombe crowd.

Minehead welcomed back Milton, Buckingham, Cox, and Chinn, and their influence was crucial, as the Barbarians sought to make up for the loss away at the Bath club.

In the away fixture the Oldfield 10 had controlled the game behind a dominant pack, but this time the Minehead forwards stood firm and the visitor’s backline was swamped by home defence.

Minehead started brightly, forcing penalties and driving the visitors back to their line. This pressure told when following an initial carry by White, further drives took the ball close to the line, skipper Lynch changed the direction and the ball found White again, and he powered over with Lynch converting.

Oldfield struck back when a series of penalties against Minehead gave the visitors a lineout in the 22, they drove forward, and then good handling across the field put their right wing into the corner.

With 30 minutes gone, the Barbarians scored a beauty.

Minehead drove a lineout, and then worked the ball up the slope, Walker linked with Gower, who found Chinn on the top wing. Chinn powered past the remaining defenders to run in from 35 metres out.

James Cox was next on the score sheet. A goal line drop out was taken by Gower who countered, Willes carried forward, and White did the same. A ruck on the line, and Cox forced his way over. Lynch added the extra points.

At the break, coach Claydon focused maintaining quality defence, and using pace to stretch the visitors.

The second half saw Day come onto the wing, and a welcome return for Swann to the front row, where Holness had worked hard. A vital fourth try came for the Barbarians when an exchange of passes between Matt Lynch and White created space, a long pass down the slope missed out a number of players, but Chinn grabbed the ball and sprinted down the touchline to score.

Ed Hollingsworth now came on for Winter, and he again showed his potential in the back row.

The team were able to celebrate and relax when their fifth, and final score came. Debutant Tom Marlow, collected a clearance, and started the counter-attack, the ball was recycled in midfield and moved up the hill. Joel Lynch, and Day linked up to feed Chinn and he completed his hat-trick running in from 30 meters out.

What is clear is that Minehead have a fine group of players who can be very competitive at this level, but availability of players makes a huge difference to the performance on the pitch.

There were fine performances from Willes, White, Beaver, Ryan, and Joel Lynch showed great leadership. However, Man of the Match went to Sam Chinn for a superb trio of scores.