MINEHEAD Barbarians ended their season in Counties Two Somerset with a 45-31 defeat away to Keynsham 2nd XV, writes Bryan Stevens.

Minehead took the lead after 15 minutes when following a penalty kicked to just inside the home 22, Buckingham caught the ball and his pack drove forward all the way to the try-line, where Beaver claimed the try and Lynch converted.

The Minehead pack was doing well at scrum time, and the backs tried hard to move the ball despite the changes in personnel. From a scrum Kimura in the 9 shirt, who was making his senior debut, moved the ball, Day burst through to make ground, and then Chinn sprinted into the corner.

Keynsham fought back scoring twice through their backs to take the lead. Then Roberts retook that lead for the Barbarians, as he finished off a series of pick-and-drives to give Lynch a chance to convert.

The lead did not last, as the final play of the half saw the home team’s right wing cross to equalise.

The second half started badly with some strong running from Keynsham creating a converted score for them. The Barbarians hit back, a powerful carry by Nunn set up a ruck on the home line, and then Beaver cut an excellent line onto Kimura’s pass to score.

Then came a magical score from Chinn, receiving a long pass from Lynch in his own half, the winger skinned three defenders on his way to the try line, with Lynch converting.

Both teams found attacking easier than defending, and the home side built pressure, ending in a quick tap-penalty putting a score by the posts.

While the Barbarians fought hard, with Hollingsworth, Beaver, and Buckingham to the fore among the forwards, the Keynsham pressure told and they scored twice more in the final minutes.

Harry Reeder: Barbarian Man of the Match.