MINEHEAD Barbarians’ struggle for Somerset Premier League points continued on Saturday when they lost 18-5 away to Chew Valley II.

When a side is going through a bad patch a good start is more important than ever, but it wasn’t to be for the Barbarians.

Having knocked on from the kick-off, they conceded a converted try from the ensuing scrum and were chasing the game from then on.

For the rest of the half, they played as individuals rather than a team and conceded two penalties to trail 13-0 at the break.

After a team talk with input from former coach Andy Stevens, they started to play with some conviction in the second half and began to dominate the scrum, winning ball against the head, and controlling the lineout.

All the rugby was now being played in the Chew half, with a succession of determined drives and pick and go, and Minehead crossed the home try line three times in 15 minutes but were held up each time.

After huge forward pressure with Chew conceding penalty after penalty, Luke Gould went over the line, but the referee penalised Chew for an offence in the build-up and sin-binned one of their players instead of awarding the try.

Minehead continued to apply pressure and eventually a more than deserved try was scored by Fred Bushell in the corner. The kick was unsuccessful.

With time running out, Minehead were desperate to get back up the field and score, but they stepped into touch on their own five-metre line, and although they stole the lineout and tried to run from their own line, they were turned over and Chew ended the match with a try.

Had Minehead played with the same passion in the first half as in the second they would have won, and to come away with only one try after all their pressure was frustrating.

The team showed they have a lot going for them and can play some good rugby, but they need to get it together and be more clinical with the finishing touches.

Fred Bushell was named Minehead man of the match by Chew Valley.

Minehead Barbarians: K Lewis, F Bushell, R Nunn, C Sutherland, R Bradley, D Westcott, J Parker, D Swann, R Saunders, C Thrush, B Willes, L Parker, T Lamacraft, R Henson, G Richards, L Gould, R Dellow.