RUGBY: Minehead Barbarians and Ladies both pick up weekend wins

HAVING lost two previous matches, the Barbarians were determined to get back into winning form at the weekend, and did so, scoring seven tries at Ellicombe, writes Justin Harris.

The team featured changes, with Cox and Henson coming into the pack.

And, with illness ruling out Hole, Westcott moved to centre, with Kyle Lewis starting on the wing.

Minehead kicked off and the visitors failed to clear, the Barbarians regaining the ball and having multiple attacks at the line.

Cam Gray finally gained the try, cutting a sharp line to cross by the posts; Lynch converted.

Despite this setback, the visitors were playing some exciting running rugby, a long burst out of defence then saw the ball moved down the hill but winger Lewis spotted the dangerous overlap and snapped up an interception, racing fifty metres to score.

Hornets had one outstanding player, their full-back, who was a real threat, and he got them back into the game with a scorching break through the centre to score a converted try.

This try revitalised the Hornets and they mounted pressure on the home line.

Minehead showed commitment in defence and broke away when skipper Willes stole a vital lineout, and a strong exit strategy saw the team work their way upfield.

Gray broke the line again, followed by Henson, who had a storming game, and when Hawker saw a gap he sprinted in for the converted try.

Minehead’s pack had the upper hand all afternoon, experienced players like Swann, Cox and Winter driving hard, allowing Parker, Henson and Lynch to make powerful runs forward.

The pack’s strength was shown when they drove a lineout 30 metres before releasing the ball; Lewis cut a line through the middle scoring under the posts.

The team were confident at half-time but knew the visitors were still a threat.

The second period saw some sharp attacking runs from Gower and Day gain ground but, once again, it was the forwards who applied the power close to the Hornets’ line.

When the ball was released, Westcott showed some real power to surge through and score.

Westcott scored his second within minutes - Parker, Richards, and Swann driving forward, with Westcott’s angled run taking him over the line, for Lewis to convert.

Minehead now used their replacements to freshen up the team - Mollitt, George Day and Clarke (making his senior debut) coming on for Winter, Lynch, and Henson.

James Day scored the Barbarians’ final try, cutting back inside under the defenders.

The calm control shown by Cam Gray in midfield made him Heather Pring Fitness man of the match.

***

Women’s NC South West South 2
Minehead Barbarians 34, Withycombe 10

ON a glorious Autumn afternoon, Minehead Barbarians Ladies entertained Withycombe for their third match of the season.

Receiving the kick-off, Minehead quickly set out their intention to play their running game back into the eager Withycombe defence.

The first few opening forays were ferociously met, but the hosts showed great composure and worked through the phases.

A penetrating pick-and-go from Perkins was stalled on the Withycombe 22, but she sucked in players and left a gap that was rapidly exploited by Govier who, with a glorious fend, scored an unconverted try on seven minutes.

From the restart, the Pinks lost the ball but attack after attack was met by a mighty defence, with huge tackles from Willes, Kidner, Jones and Wetherall.

The visitors were forced back, and a spilled ball (from a bone-crunching tackle from debutante Clarke) was scooped up by marauding full-back Fahey, who split the scrambling defence and offloaded to a charging Govier for her second try, 15 minutes in.

Withycombe made the score 10-5 just a couple of minutes later, with a couple of quick phases, but then a quick penalty from Wetherall saw her burst through and find Govier, who had three tries inside 25 minutes, and Wetherall converted.

Fahey broke down the right and was stopped by a high tackle; again Wetherall was sharp and she sprinted through for a fourth try, which she converted herself.

The visitors fought back to make the score 24-10 at half time, with a second try following three quick penalties.

The second half was tighter, with Withycombe heavily marking Govier, but that only created more space for her team-mates.

A Withycombe attack was stopped one metre short, and a Pinks breakaway went through hands to Preston-Sheasby, who ran the length of the field to score in the 50th minute.

The Minehead defence was forced to repel further attacks, and then, having weathered the storm, worked their way upfield.

Number 8 Jones broke off the back of a scrum to power through and go over.

Player of the match - Sael Chisolm-Massheder; forward of the match - Georgina Perkins; back of the match - Lissie Preston-Sheasby.