THE first rugby of the new '26/27 season came to the Tom Stewart field at Minehead on Saturday when Ilfracombe made the trip over from North Devon to play a pre season match.

The Barbarians had a big squad to work with and Director of Rugby Luke Milton and head coach Greg Richards were keen to make sure that all the players had a opportunity to show their skills, and impress before the first league matches this coming weekend. The game was played in a number of shorter sessions to allow the coaches to rotate players and deliver advice during the breaks.

In the early exchanges the Barbarians' loose forwards were dominant, with new skipper Bruce Bullard and former skipper George Buckingham looking sharp. Second row Will Griffin caught the eye with some powerful carries, as did Ben Lock. In the backs, Harris and Lynch at half-back kept a good level of control and smoothly released their outside players.

The first score came after two close opportunities for Day had not gone his way. Then from a tapped penalty the ball moved down the slope with Parfitt hitting the line at pace and breaking through for a try. Soon after Buckingham crossed following some hard and skilful work by the forwards, with Gower then creating a gap for Buckingham to race through.

Ilfracombe were not to be deterred, and struck back when a back row forward powered away from a scrum to cross the line.

Now Griffin gained a try for the Barbarians. Gower counter-attacked from a loose kick, first breaking through the centre, then moving the ball back up the slope where Griffin could race over. Last season's top try scorer, Sam Chinn was next on the board. The ball was run out of defence with the players determined to keep the ball alive; this included an excellent catch of the ball near his toes by Parfitt, and when the ball reached Chinn, he sprinted away.

Ben Crosby then scored a try as he used some excellent footwork to beat defenders before diving over.

Having built a substantial lead, Minehead now rang the changes, bringing on the rest of the squad, and the changes made it difficult for the team to retain the rhythm that it had shown earlier. Ilfracombe struck back with a couple of tries, exploiting the changed defenders.

The Barbarians came back again running hard in the backs; Parfitt made a half-break and slipped the ball to Langdon, the big winger powered away to the line. Gower, at full-back claimed the next, benefitting from some good approach work by Day, and Crosby. Next, Parfitt scored a second try when Lynch ran flat across, and popped the ball to the centre on the burst.

Young wing Rueben Wyburn then took his try well, running a good supporting line to a break by Gower.

To their credit Ilfracombe never gave up and finished strongly, with a well taken score in the corner by their left wing.

The game will have given much for the coaching team to consider as they prepare for league matches to come this coming weekend. The 1st XV are away to St Bernadettes Old Boys and the 2nd XV are home to Morganians.