MINEHEAD Barbarians will be looking to maintain second place in Counties Two Somerset when they play away to Oldfield Old Boys on Saturday, December 14.

The Barbarians will also be looking to complete the double over their opponents, having won 43-15 at home early in the season.

Oldfield were the only side to play in the division last weekend because of Storm Darragh, beating St Bernadettes Old Boys 33-21. Minehead were due to play away to Rebels Rugby but the game was called off on Friday.

“It was the right decision - safety comes first,” said Minehead’s head coach Mick Orton. "it was the right call.

“We beat Oldfield fairly comfortably when we played them in September. But we will be without Carl Roberts, Jack White and Sam Chinn on Saturday - and there may be one or two others.

“Unavailability for away games is not something new - and I know many other clubs face the same problem. It doesn’t just go back to Covid - it was a problem before then."

He added: “We just have to go out there and field the strongest side we can and give our best. That’s all we can do.”

Minehead go into Saturday’s game 12 points behind leaders Midsomer Norton who are away to Chew Valley’s 2nd XV who are eighth in the table.

Counties Two Somerset fixtures: Chew Valley v Midsomer Norton, Clevedon v Hornets, Oldfield Old Boys v Minehead Barbarians, Rebels Rugby v Nailsea & Backwell, Wells v Imperial, Avon v St Bernadettes Old Boys.

Minehead Barbarians 2nd XV, who play in Counties Four Somerset South, are without a game this weekend.

Meanwhile, Wiveliscombe lst XV have a tough home game when they play Pirates Amateurs who are lying second in Counties One Western West. Wiveliscombe are fifth in the table with six victories in ten matches.

Paignton, who have a seven-point lead at the top of the table, are away to Redruth’s second string who beat Wiveliscombe in their last match a fortnight ago.

Counties One Western West fixtures: Kingsbridge v Bude, Plymstock Albion Oaks v Bideford, Redruth v Paignton, St Ives v Penryn, Tavistock v Barnstaple, Wiveliscombe v Pirates Amateurs.

Wiveliscombe 2nd XV, who remain top of Counties Four Somerset South despite last weekend’s loss at Martock, have no game this weekend.

It means Martock, who are only one point behind Wiveliscombe, will go above their rivals if they beat Weston super Mare’s 3rd XV away. Weston are lying eighth in the table, having won only two of their eight fixtures to date.

Counties Four Somerset South fixtures: Hornets v Morganians, Yeovil v Burnham, Tor v Bridgwater & Albion, Weston super Mare v Martock.