TAUNTON’S second string completed a derby double over Minehead Barbarians with a 26-5 win in the Somerset Premier Division on Saturday.

Both sides agreed to play on a quagmire of a pitch which had just staged a Colts game, and in the conditions they put on a more than creditable display.

Honours were even for the first 20 minutes, but the Taunton backs always looked more dangerous and might have gained control had the final passes gone to hand.

When they did eventually get the ball wide, their left wing looked certain to score but with the line at his mercy he slipped and fell just short.

Taunton created more chances and, having driven up to the 22 in midfield, they switched right and this time made no mistake with a try out wide to give them a deserved 5-0 half-time lead.

The Minehead scrum was disrupted by the loss of Ryan Dellow, forcing them to re-jig the front row, with veteran Richard Maddock - playing his first match of the season at blind side - took over at tight head and more than held his own, while Fred Bushell came in to the back row.

But the already lightweight pack came under increasing pressure as the conditions underfoot worsened by the minute and Taunton raised the tempo to set up a series of driving mauls which were twice held up before they finally gained the touch down. A good conversion put them 12-0 ahead.

With the wind behind them, Minehead got back into the game when Taunton failed to take a high ball and Chris Jackson hacked through for Chris James to win the race for the touchdown.

Although the kick failed, Minehead were in with a chance at 12-5, but Taunton were soon back in their 22 and from a five-metre scrum the Minehead pack literally slid backwards over the line for the decisive score, again well converted.

Taunton maintained the pressure with a succession of high kicks, and although full back Kyle Lewis did well to field them, one eventually bounced perfectly for their centre to gather and hand on to one of the back row who was backing up well.

The conversion sealed things and with the bonus point secured there were no complaints when the referee, who controlled the game sympathetically throughout , called it a day with five minutes to go.

Minehead Barbarians: K Lewis, C James, D Westcott, C Jackson, F Bushell, C Sutherland, J Parker, D Swann, J Barrett, R Dellow, M Lynch, G Richards, R Maddock, R Henson, R Nunn, C Payne, J Langdon.