Minehead Barbarians beat newly-promoted Keynsham 2nds 39-7 in the Somerset Premier yesterday.

The opening exchanges were fairly even but Minehead were first to go close , when Dan Richardson burst through the centre only to be hauled down 5 metres short.

Play was switched to Dave Farmer on the right wing who just failed to make the touchdown in the corner.

Both sides failed with penalty attempts before Dave Farmer put Minehead three points ahead following a high tackle in front of the posts.

Minehead began to take control and put together five phases before releasing Kyle Lewis to cross for an unconverted try, quickly followed by a try from debutant flanker Harry Simms.

Simms was on hand to take the scoring pass from Will Bridal who had made 40 metres from an interception on the half way line. Farmer made it 13-0 with the conversion Martin Cook hacked through midfield to put pressure on the Keynsham right wing who was turned over by the Minehead pack, setting up Dan Richardson to go over for another try converted by Farmer.

Minehead were now fully in control and a neat interchange between Farmer and Tom Bishop set up quick ruck ball to find prop James Baker on the charge whose low drive proved unstoppable .

Solid scrumaging enabled No9 Martin Cook to give Dom Westcott space to burst past the opposing back row and go over for a try in front of the posts, duly converted by Farmer to end the half with a 32-0 lead.

Despite a positive start to the second half Minehead only added one further try. Dom Westcott hacked over the Keynsham line, early on, from 50m out and Kyle Lewis was up to win the chase and secure the touch down near the posts. Farmer again converted.

With nothing to lose, Keynsham began to run the ball at every opportunity and came close on a couple of occasions before their hooker scored a well deserved converted try right on the stroke full time.

A well-deserved win, in which scrum half Cook and centre Richardson were prominent but the Quay Inn Man of the Match award went to flanker Jonno Woolacott who was everywhere in the loose, tackling ferociously, never giving the opposition a chance to settle and winning vital turnover ball time and again.

Barbarians: K Lewis, D Farmer, J Pound, D Richardson, T Bishop , D Westcott, M Cook, R Lewis (Capt), D Edwards, J Baker, W Bridal, J Webber, H Simms, R Henson, J Woolacott, Replacements: R Parsons, O Claydon, S Hayes.