MINEHEAD Barbarians kept up the pressure at the top of Counties Two Somerset with a 45-12 home win over St Bernadettes Old Boys.

However, Saturday at Ellicombe was “Jossy’s Day”, which was dedicated to raising money for The Wallace and Gromit Grand Appeal, and organised by the Milton family, before the Barbarians showed their sparkling best on the field to start the event.

Sam Chinn added another three tries to his season’s tally, and James Day achieved his landmark 150th match for the team.

For the first ten minutes the visitors dominated possession and tried to batter their way through the Barbarian defence, but the home side stood strong and disciplined. When Minehead gained the ball they immediately moved it wide where they had Day, Chinn, and Lock’s pace waiting.

The hard carrying of White, Willes, and Hollingsworth got the team onto the front foot, and they set siege to the Saints line. Stopped short a number of times, it was Senior who slipped the ball out of the tackle to Chinn who dived in. Chinn added a second almost from the restart. A strong scrum drove forward and the ball was moved up the slope, the supporting Milton gave Day room, and he sent the wing away to score a converted try.

As St Bernadettes tried to fight back there were strong drives from Edwards and Coleman that turned the tide.

Next Day produced an impressive finish to a flowing movement which created an overlap, but this time Day cut back inside and raced to the posts.

Minehead skipper George Buckingham was next on the scoresheet. Nunn made a powerful burst through the centre, and when brought down short of the line, Buckingham was in support to finish, and leave the score 26-0 at the break.

While the backs had brought the exciting running in the first half, it was founded on the hard work of the forward pack who had been tidy in defence, and efficient at scrum and lineout time. Beaver again showed how much his game has improved this season.

The game entered a stop-start phase with some injuries, and penalties, but when the visitors made ground, Gower kicking long released the pressure. Ruddenklau came on for Edwards, and soon after was joined by Swann and Roberts, to add some youth and pace.

It took something special to lift the game again, and it came when the Barbarians ran from their own 22. Nunn ran straight, sucking in defenders, then Coleman carried again, before Gower and Day released Chinn who beat three tacklers on his way to the line.

Then Day took his chance once again from deep, the forwards handled well, then as the ball moved wide Day accelerated away to the line. Minehead’s final try came from Ruddenklau who ran a fine support line to support Chinn and Senior, before crashing over to score himself.

It was to the credit of the visiting side that they did not give up, but finished strong to claim two late tries before the final whistle. Luke Milton was a very deserved Player of the Match.

Only one other match was played in the division with table-toppers Burnham on Sea gaining a 53-10 away victory over Oldfield Old Boys to stretch their lead over second-placed Clevedon to six points with Minehead four points further adrift in third spot.

Bryan Stevens