MINEHEAD Barbarians gained a hard-earned 20-17 home victory over Hornets Seconds in Counties Two Somerset. It was a win which owed everything to grit and determination, as Minehead fought through to eventually take the spoils.

The Barbarians had lost at Hornets earlier in the season, but were determined to do better in front of their home crowd. A young and well drilled Hornets team started strongly and took an early lead. An attack in the home 22 looked to have been halted, but a long pass created room for the visitors’ full-back to score.

Now the Barbarians started to find their feet, Willes and Bullard carried, and then Hole burst through midfield, winning a penalty to allow Fritz to kick long to touch.

Soon after, Fritz showed his pace and power. Quick ball from a breakdown was moved by Allerton and Senior to Day, his pass gave Fritz some space and he raced forward, before smashing through the fullback to score. Hawker added an excellent conversion.

Hornets built more pressure, and it took sturdy defence to ‘hold-up’ a player over the line and stop a score. The Minehead mood lifted when Martins produced a bone-shaking tackle in mid-field, Martins, who usually props, gave a fine display on the flank for his team. Good handling from a lineout saw another Barbarian break up the hill, this time the ball was spilled in the final tackle.

The game swayed, both teams having periods of pressure, without being able to break through. Then came vital points to the home team. Runs by Allerton, and Martins resulted in a penalty which was converted by Hawker, who impressed all afternoon, this gave a half-time score of 10-5.

A dominant scrum by the Barbarians on their own line released the pressure, and won the put-in to the next scrum. From the scrum in their 22 Minehead opened up, Day racing through a gap and off-loaded to Fritz, who accelerated to the outside beating the cover, and racing away to the posts, with Hawker converting.

Hornets came back, pinning Minehead in their half. The Barbarians were putting together some good phases but then falling foul of the referee, with penalties knocking them back. Once again Minehead held-up opponents over the line, but could not escape the pressure. Finally Hornets were rewarded when, from a tap penalty, the ball was moved wide and found a try in the corner which was converted.

Winter and Hollingsworth came on for Swann and White, and later Langdon replaced How; these fresh faces were needed as the visitors fought back. Hornets won a series of attacking lineouts which took all of Minehead’s energy to repel.

Eventually Hawker had the chance to add three more vital points, when the visitors were penalised for a deliberate knock-on.

Credit to Hornets for a fine last score when their fly-half put in an inch-perfect kick for his winger to cross.

With time running out Minehead used short carries before the ball was kicked out to allow the final whistle.

The best part of this performance was the attitude of the Barbarian players who fought for the shirt, and their teammates till the end. MoM: Will Hawker.

Meanwhile, Minehead Barbarians 2nd XV gained a 48-43 away win over Bridgwater to consolidate fourth place in Counties Four Somerset South. MoM: Harry Reeder.