Western Counties West: Minehead Barbarians 18, Withycombe 17.

MINEHEAD Barbarians won this match the hard way. At half time the team appeared to be cruising to a win, but by the end it took the last kick of the match to leave the home side with the points.

The afternoon started on a sombre note, as the teams stood in silence to remember club member John Bircher who sadly lost his life recently following a car crash. John will be remembered fondly by all those at Minehead Barbarians, especially his team-mates in the 3rd XV.

Minehead started well and clean line-out ball was moved wide, and Ford – making a welcome return in the centre. He fed Bishop on the burst and the full-back slipped a pass to Thomas on the wing who crossed the line unopposed. Withycombe got themselves on the scoreboard soon after, their fly-half converting a 35 metre penalty.

The Barbarians’ second try came after bursts from Henson, Rob Webber, and Baker, Westcott appearing off his wing to score.

Leading 10-3 at the break, Minehead were confident, but were hit with a sucker punch by the visitors in the first minute of the second half when Withycombe’s winger scored after a chip ahead from their fly half.

Minehead struggled to gather their confidence and conceded another soft try when, from a five metre line-out, the Devon side drove over through a disorganised defence. This try was also converted, giving the visitors the lead.

Minehead regrouped and, from a five-metre line the home forwards drove on, and then the ball was moved crossfield, and back again, before Bishop burst over to bring the score within two points.

Langdon also came on, and he did a super piece of covering back, when the visitors tried to break out.

With the seconds ticking away, Withycombe infringed to give away a penalty and Farmer, who had not had his best afternoon with the boot, stepped up and kicked the goal to win the match.

Tom Bishop was a deserved man of the match, for a game in which he was the side’s best attacker.

Somerset Premier: Winscombe 3, Taunton 2nd XV 27.

TAUNTON United kept up their fine form with an impressive display away to Winscombe.

Winscombe took an early lead with a penalty before a stalemate ensued with scrums holding solid and line-outs worked well for both sides.

Taunton eventually made ground into the Winscombe half and some quick rucks opened up space for back row forward Lee Jeremiah to weave his way over for a try.

Taunton withstood some Winscombe pressure with Chris Hurley and Paddy Dean holding a solid line before, against the run of play, Dave Webber took a pass to outpace the full-back to score in the corner, unconverted. Paddy Dean added a penalty on the stroke of half time to give Taunton a 13-3 lead.

Taunton started the second half strongly and eventually made their pressure tell as full back Moses Tuisawau returned a kick and some great link play saw Kyle Giblett explode through a gap to score. Stef James converted.

With only minutes, Taunton sealed victory with a superb try. Scrum half Nick Williams turned over ball in a ruck and link play from the forwards created space for winger Ben Rudkin, who ran in from 60 metres out. James converting from infront the posts.

Taunton United are home to Tor on Saturday.

Somerset One: Wiveliscombe 25, Old Redcliffians 2nd XV 17.

WIVELISCOMBE secured their sixth win in a row but were giving a good stern test by their visitors from Bristol.

Losing the toss Wivey played down the slope in the first half and a purple patch of 30 minutes saw them score three tries, which in the end proved enough to take the two league points.

Old Reds started the stronger and put Wivey under a ten minute period of sustained pressure. To their credit the home team defended very well considering the size of some of the visitors forwards.

Wivey then found the form of previous weeks and played some flowing rugby. Gareth Bellamy opened the scoring with a penalty for Wivey when Reds were punished for holding on in the tackle. Tom Chaffey then scored his first try, catching Reds flat-footed with a chip and touching down with no trouble. Bellamy converted.

Good support play by Wivey was finished of by hooker Joe Harper touching down in the top corner 15-0.

Wivey increased their lead with Chaffey scoring his second try, which was a classic. The ball was moved along the trees, Chaffey joined from full-back and raced through a gap in the defence. Bellamy converted to put Wivey 22-0 at half time.

Playing down the slope in the second half Reds proved a real handful, especially their pack. Matt Oakley scored their first points with a penalty before Scott Blankley crossed Wivey’s line after a sustained spell of pressure. Oakley converted to close the gap to 22-10.

Bellamy then kicked an important penalty to give Wivey a 15-point lead, but he visitors had the last say when centre Shaun Excell was put in for Reds second try and Oakley converted.

On Saturday, Wivey are away to leaders Gordano, who have won all six league matches. However, Wivey defeated the Bristol side in the cup two weeks ago.

Somerset Two South: Wiveliscombe 2nd XV 47 pts, Cullompton 3rd XV 15.

WIVEY’S second team proved to strong for their neighbours from Devon in a re-arranged game at Plain Pond.

Wivey scored seven tries in all. Dan Clarke (2) and Neil Higgens (2) led the way with Stuart Norman, Ben Thain and Mark Barrington crossing for one apiece. Lee Milton-Fyffe converted six to complete the victory.

Somerset Two South: Wellington 2nd XV 26, Taunton 3rds 30.

TAUNTON Wanderers built on their fine win against Chard with a narrow victory away to local rivals Wellington.

The visitors’ early pressure paid off when, after receiving a perfect pass from Paul Morrell, Charlie Gletherow dived over the line from ten yards for a converted try.

Wellington upped their game and forced a mistake in Taunton’s midfield and capitalised from the turnover to score a deserved try. Both sides kicked a penalty before the end of the half and Taunton went in 10-8 up.

The second half started at the same tempo as the first. After excellent work by the Taunton forwards winger Josh Perrin raced clear to score a converted try.

Wellington hit back with a try of their own after opening up the Wanderers defence.

Taunton regained the advantage when, after quick ball from the forwards Miller slipped a short pass to Morrell then to Jack Cooper who chipped the ball on and collected to score a remarkable try in the corner.

Wellington responded soon after to go ahead and produce a tantalising finish but Taunton were not to be denied and Mark Laver, on as a replacement 15, danced past the defence to score a converted try. Miller slotted over a late penalty to secure victory.

Somerset Three South: Wyvern 16, Chard 3rds 15.

WYVERN secured the narrowest of wins from their toughest game of the season.

Chard dominated the scrums, line-outs, rucks and mauls which resulted in an early try.

Wyvern hit back with a penalty from captain Martin Howe and, despite Chard scoring again before the break, Wyvern came back much stronger in the second half with a fine try from the retuning centre Jim Odams.

The conversion and two further penalty kicks from Martin Howe, the latter coming just minutes from full-time, handed the hosts victory.

The excellent comeback was led by joint men of the match, back rowers Jake Wren, Dave Hughes and Guy Loader.