MINEHEAD Barbarians went down 34-29 away to leaders Bridgwater & Albion in a hard-fought match in Counties Two Somerset in their latest game, writes Bryan Stevens.

The last time the Barbarians faced Bridgwater at 1st XV level was in 1990 at Ellicombe in the Somerset Cup,. Minehead gaining a memorable win.

These two clubs have a long history of players performing in both shirts. Alan Woollam, Mike Rawle, Russell Smith, Rob Hayes, Martin Rackham, Andy Stevens, Andrew White, and others have turned out for both clubs over the years. Once again the game turned out to be hard contested with both teams having periods of control, with home advantage winning through in the end.

The Barbarians took the early lead with Fritz who once again starred for his team. The pack carried hard, and Beaver ran a strong line that allowed the wing to race for the try. Fritz added a second after Milton was involved four times as the Barbarians moved the ball right, and then back left to the wing where Fritz raced clear.

Bridgwater were never going to allow Minehead an easy day, and they fought back hard with their driving mauls and work at the breakdown putting the visitors on the back foot. The Barbarians tried to keep the ball moving to the wings, but Allerton also made some hard carries in midfield.

The home side scored when they worked space on the left to put their wing over. Bridgwater scored again soon after, and this time the scorer was former Barbarian stalwart forward Leigh Parker.

Bridgwater now started to build a lead. A Minehead clearance was deflected, and landed well for the home full-back to race onto at pace and cross to score.

White came on at prop for the visitors, showing great commitment to the team, having been suffering from illness. Edwards, Buckingham, and Lock were always in the thick of the fight, as the team tried to steady the ship. However it was a turnover by How and Chinn that set the Barbarians away again. A well-judged kick to the corner saw Fritz take the ball and run around to score, completing his hat-trick.

Disappointingly, the Barbarians conceded a rather soft try just before the break, the home seven breaking a couple of tackles to cross.

Henson impressed with his work rate, and Bullard led his team by example, as they fought to hold the attacks. Minehead’s scrum held up well, while the home side had an advantage at line-out maul.

Two more Bridgwater tries came, and that could have killed off the Barbarians’ chances, but despite being under a lot of pressure they just raised their game once again.

A strong scrum in their own 22 saw Minehead win the ball back, some fine off-loading made ground, and then How received the ball with 70 metres to run, and he outpaced the defenders to remind how well he has started the season.

Then, from an attacking lineout, ball was carried up by Allerton, play switched back to Lynch who found a gap and scored to mark his 100th senior game. The game ended with Minehead without the win, but with two vital away points against the league leaders.

Mu-eed Fritz was named an outstanding Barbarian Player of the Match.