Somerset Premier: Stothert and Pitt 0, Minehead Barbarians 12

AFTER more than a month without action Minehead returned to league rugby on Saturday when they ground out a victory over Stothert and Pitt.

It was clear from the kick off that both sides were rusty from the long lay off and a number of mistakes were made early on. However, the long break hadn’t dented Minehead’s ambition to play expansive rugby.

Minehead’s back row of Rob Webber, Richard Henson and Scott Langdon ensured it was their side who dominated early on, bursting through tackles and stopping the opposition in their tracks but the home side soon forced their way into the Barbarians 22. Fortunately for Minehead they missed with what looked an easy penalty kick.

Both sides were lucky to avoid losing players to the sin-bin in the first half, Stothert and Pitt’s flanker could have walked for trampling on Minehead lock David Webber, while Minehead could have lost a player when they conceded a series of penalties near their own line.

Minehead opened the scoring after half an hour when the powerful running of centres Tom Bishop and Jack Claydon forced the home defence to rush up. This allowed Jarrod Nyssen to slip through the gap created and although he was caught short of the line he slipped the ball to Scott Langdon, who scored under the posts. Nyssen added the conversion.

Minehead led by that one score at the break and Chris Webber came on for Henson, meaning there were three Webber brothers on the pitch.

The vital second score came as some astute tactical kicking by Nyssen drove Stothert back to their own line and a good catch and drive saw Kiwi hooker Kieran Straker dive over the line.

The conversion was missed but with Minehead comfortably ahead and their pack going well the home side were forced to run the ball from deep. The Barbarian defence was up to the task though and the game petered out, giving Minehead a win that was more comfortable than the scoreline made it seem.

Martin Cook was named man of the match.

Minehead: W Pooley, J Harris, J Claydon, T Bishop, K Lewis, J Nyssen, M Cook, J Baker, J Straker, R Lewis, R Cox, D Webber, S Langdon, R Webber, R Henson. Reps: K Roberts, C Webber, L Parker.