RUGBY: Minehead Barbarians defeat Somerset One title rivals Imperial

MINEHEAD Barbarians 1st XV travelled to second-placed Imperial last weekend and came away with the spoils in a close game which may well determine who is crowned Somerset One champions for 2016/17.

Having beaten Imperial by just a single point at home earlier in the season, Minehead knew that this would be a similar test with little between the sides.

Facing the wind and rain in the first half on a flat pitch that soon became very soft under foot, Imperial made the brighter start and made their physical presence known with hard tackles and direct running lines.

Minehead’s defence held, with Ryan Lewis, Harry Simms and Swann on form, while hooker Greg Richards was solid all day in his lineout throwing.

The hosts kept the ball in hand for much of the first half despite the poor conditions, and although they tried all they could they struggled to make any inroads into the Barbarians half.

Out of frustration their scrum-half resorted to kicking the ball deep into the Minehead 22, which was well covered by the back three of Farmer, Parker and Lamacraft.

Minehead did come close to scoring twice but the referee deemed the ball was held up on both, so at half time the scores were still level at 0-0 with neither side giving an inch – Minehead knew that they had the edge, but they just needed to make it happen.

MUDBATH: Scott Howe and Justin Harris tackle an Imperial opponent in testing underfoot conditions. 

The wind and rain in the second half subsided and playing conditions improved, but the damage to the pitch had already been done, making it slow going for both sides.

Again Minehead continued to dominate possession and Justin Harris at scrum-half took every opportunity to box kick his team back down the park and keep Imperial pinned in the corner.

Willes and Cox were exemplary in the lineout and caused disruption to Imperial’s lineout as well.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Imperial’s discipline started to slip and on several occasions they killed the ball at the breakdown at crucial times, and a number of warnings were given for high tackles.

Harris made a break into the Imperial 22 only to be high tackled, and a penalty was awarded, which Dave Farmer calmly slotted over to finally break the deadlock.

It wasn’t long after that Farmer got a second chance after the same offence, only for the penalty to go wide.

Minehead’s confidence was growing with the pack now putting pressure on Imperial’s defence, and the front five drove the ball back down the park from a set-piece lineout, only to once again be held up short.

The Imperial scrum-half killed the ball yet again from another Ryan Lewis charge, and a penalty was awarded which Farmer made no mistake in dispatching between the posts to increase the lead to 6-0.

Farmer was then handed another chance, which he took, to give Minehead some breathing space at 9-0.

With just 10 minutes left on the clock, Bradley cleared Minehead’s line with a kick back into the Imperial half which was collected by their full-back, who stepped three Minehead players to run in under the posts, and when the conversion was added Minehead’s lead was cut to just two points.

Imperial upped their game and work rate, attacking out wide with Lewis and Wilicox working well together to make their tackles.

As the clock ran down Minehead got their hands back on the ball and knew it was just a matter of time.

Possession switched from side to side as the ball was so greasy but Minehead managed to hold out, with Freddie Pring making the final tackle which forced the ball to be spilt once more, and the referee blew for full time.

Minehead now just have four games to go and are playing at home again this weekend, as they welcome Wellington 2nds (ko 2.30pm).