AFTER a tight first half, Minehead Barbarians raised their game and recorded a big 50-5 win against Bath-based Oldfield Old Boys on Saturday in Counties Two Somerset, writes Bryan Stevens.

Minehead made changes to their pack with three regulars unavailable, but with the experience of players such as Dave Swann coming in, the team kept their standards high.

The early exchanges saw the power of the home pack put pressure onto the visitors, and provide plenty of good ball to the backs.

The young Oldfield team showed plenty of energy and moved the ball well. And while Minehead dominated possession, the away side won some vital penalties at the breakdown.

It took over 15 minutes before the first points came, and it was Oldfield that scored. From a line-out the visitors moved the ball down the slope, as it came back, a hard carry created space and then quick hands sent their right-wing over.

The Barbarians bounced back, building pressure, but were frustrated by some fine clearances by the Oldfield fly-half. Eventually they gained a reward for their power. A dominant scrum pushed toward the visitors’ line, and No.8 David Edwards picked up and drove through to score with fly-half Joel Lynch converting.

The half continued with Minehead’s scrum dominant, and threatening with their backs, but Oldfield were doing well to disrupt the breakdowns and stop any more scoring.

The second half started well for the Barbarians and a penalty kicked to the corner gave the chance for a driven line- out. The pack rumbled forward, and hooker Sean Beaver peeled off to score. The visitors almost scored from the restart, as they caught the ball on the burst and were only stopped close to the try-line.

Some tense defending ensued before Minehead were able to break out. A powerful burst by Edwards, supported by Luke Senior, won an attacking scrum. Quick ball allowed Luke Milton to feed full-back Jacob Gower who stepped through to score with Lynch adding the extra points.

Tom Claydon and Kyle Roberts had come on to add strength to the pack, and on one occasion drove the visitors back ten metres off their own ball. That scrum power showed again when the Barbarians drove forward from a five-metre scrum and Edwards grabbed his second score.

The next try came when a tap penalty taken by Will Hawker saw Claydon stopped just short, then a long miss-pass gave winger Sam Chinn the chance to cross in the corner on his 100th cap for the club. From the restart the ball was moved wide at pace, winger James Day sprinted 50 metres before slipping the ball to Gower to score, an effort which Lynch converted.

Minehead now had their tails up, and with Oldfield tiring, a switch between Lynch and Ryan Nunn saw the latter power through to score. The final score came when powerhouse Claydon broke tackles as he went under the posts, and the conversion brought up the 50 points.

Edwards was a well-deserved Barbarian player of the day.

Minehead’s second team produced a fine comeback at home from over 20 points down to draw 29-all with their Wells counterparts in Counties Somerset Four South.

Both sides scored five tries with Jim Cranswick, Will Griffin, Ben Allerton, Ollie Parfitt and Alfie Gallagher all crossing for the hosts who saw No.8 Harry Reeder named as their player-of-the-match.