13th November 2010 - Tribute Somerset 2 South:

Minehead Barbarians II 12 v 5 North Petherton II

Report by Ben Williams

In a week filled with various excuses for non availability, Petherton travelled to Minehead with only 16 players for what will always be a tough game, on a notoriously difficult pitch, for visiting sides.

Petherton however started strongly with a succession of good performances. They however soon lost veteran No 8 Ade Harris with a reoccurrence of a long standing back injury. However his son Toby and partner in crime Mike Taylor set about causing havoc to the Minehead fly half and back row.

Petherton dominated may facets of the game, but just couldn’t finish off various attacks throughout the first half. Finally though, winger Lloyd Steward finished off a great individual try in the corner after shaking off four tackles. However a minute before the end of the half Petherton's defence slacked for the one and only time during the game allowing Minehead to score any easy try. The try was converted making the score at half time 7-5.

Minehead dominated possession in the second half with all the 50/50 decisions going their way. Taylor and Harris continued to dominate at the breakdown, but a difference in opinion of the laws at the breakdown saw Petherton give away territory. Petherton however never took a backwards step and defended resolutely. The returning Russell Williams played well and believed he had scored only to discover he had only crossed the 5 metre line!

Minehead scored near the end of a game with few chances to secure victory. Petherton however can take solace in the fact that they played superbly in the face of adversity.

Team: Pocock, Murdoch, Brown, Tew, Stewart, T. Harris, Taylor, A, Harris (G. Pearn, 15), Rybaruk, Pearce, Steward, S. Pearn, R. Williams. B. Williams, Tozer.