Minehead Barbarians 2nds 14 Weston Athletic 21

This away win was achieved in the face of a howling gale, Athletic coming back from a 14 points to nil half time score to win in dogged style, in a competitive closely fought encounter with Minehead Barbarians 2nds.

Due to illness and cry offs the Athletic arrived at Minehead with 14 players and no replacements. After a slight delay due to the designated pitch not having been marked another pitch close to Mineheads ground was found.

Hill, the Athletic captain, won the toss and chose to play uphill for the first half. This proved to be Minehead's undoing as the Athletic forwards managed to keep the score down to two tries and the extras.

With Robbie Hazzard making countless covering tackles, weather conditions got progressively worse and at one stage the Athletic were not only playing uphill but into the teeth of gale-force winds and lashing rain. With youth and guile in full harmony the Athletic contested every ball. Burns orchestrated the backs and by utilising Larkin's years of experience managed to reduce Minehead's chances to the minimum.

A quick turn round at half-time saw the Athletic pack drive the opposition forwards back down the hill allowing Larkin to pick up a lose ball and score close to the posts, Dan Prime picking up the two points with a great display of goal kicking.

With the pack having total control the backs where brought into play and the youth in the side came to the fore stretching the Minehead backline. Constant harrying kept the pressure on the opposition forwards containing the aggressive Minehead side in their own half for long periods of play.

Winning a line-out in the Barbarians 22 allowed the pack to drive over with Noszgay dabbing down, Prime taking the conversion with ease given the appalling conditions.

With only minutes left Dan Prime fly hacked down field and then outstripped all Minehead's defensive line to score the winning try and again picking up the extras.