MINEHEAD Barbarians lost 15-19 at home to Wiveliscombe as the two local sides kicked off their Somerset Premier League campaign on Saturday.

They started confidently enough, putting their visitors under pressure with a series of close passing movements, and for ten minutes they looked to be having the better of it.

But having built a promising position down the left, a loose pass was intercepted on the 22 by Wivey’s right wing and he scorched away to round the full back and score a converted try under the posts.

This gave Wivey the confidence to put the ball wide, where they had the pace to cause problems, and they soon increased their lead when they spun the ball across field in an orthodox passing movement to put their left winger in space to run in a second converted try and a 14-0 lead.

Things looked ominous for Minehead as Wivey opted for attacking rugby, but despite a lack of organisation in their experimental midfield they defended well and gradually the pack began to take control.

Dom Westcott hoisted deep into the 22 where Wivey cleared, but from the ensuing lineout the burly Minehead pack set up the drive for Ben Willes to make the line.

The conversion kick failed but Minehead were now in the ascendancy, and with Kyle Roberts on for Connor Thrush, they set up a classic rolling maul to gain a good 25 metres, and with Wivey having lost a player to the sin bin, another big drive saw Richard Henson round off the move.

The kick went close, but at 10-14 Minehead were right back in it, and when Justin Harris was stopped just short from a quickly taken penalty, the pack was on hand to drive on for Roberts to gain the vital touch down and send his side in at half-time with a 15-14 lead.

At this stage the smart money was on Minehead, as it seemed likely their pack would continue to use their superior weight and strength to set up more of the same.

But Wivey were having none of it and soon put together a move down the left flank which exposed the lack of organisation in the home defence, allowing the support runner to show speed and strength to make the final burst for the line and put them back in the lead at 19-15.

The rest of the half became a strangely lethargic affair, with Wivey defending sensibly and slowing the game down, and Minehead unable to build up a further head of steam in a stop-go performance.

There was no further score, although it took a magnificent try-saving tackle by new skipper Ryan Nunn in a one on one situation to deny Wivey a bonus try and enable his side to salvage a losing bonus point.

Minehead fielded a young and inexperienced back division, with Dylan Evans making his debut on the wing and Freddie Bushell and Josh Parker having only had a couple of games last season, and it will take a while for them to form a unit.

The back row of Richard Henson, Leigh Parker and Tom Lamacraft combined well, and debutants Connor Thrush and Matt Lynch showed the Minehead forward factory is still bringing through emerging talent, and competition will be fierce for places in the pack this season.

Justin Harris was player of the day for his energy, versatility and vision, both at hooker and later at scrum half.

Minehead Barbarians: K Lewis, J Parker, F Bushell, R Bradley, D Evans, D Westcott, R Nunn, D Swann, J Harris, C Thrush, B Willes, M Lynch, T Lamacraft, K Roberts, G Richards, J Barratt.

The Barbarians are away to Yatton tomorrow (Saturday).