Minehead Barbarians 33 - 28 Nailsea & Backwell
Nailsea & Backwell travelled down to Minehead knowing a tough battle was ahead. The conditions started badly and deteriorated as the game went on, but this did not detract from both sides playing some fantastic rugby.
It was Minehead who stared the brighter using the pace outside for James Day to ground the ball under the sticks. N&B responded almost immediately with Luke Caswell finishing a series of pick and goes close to the line. Alex Jones completed his first conversion in a 100% kicking performance.
Minehead continued to demonstrate how quick their Wings were and score three further tries as Nailsea’s defence struggled to cope with the pace. Half time arrived with the Ravens 26-7 down. Nailsea had it all to do.
The team talk at half time asked the Nailsea players to target the breakdown so the ball was more difficult to play wide and that’s exactly what they did.
N&B applied continued pressure and created a number of turnovers for Caswell, and the hard working Ryan Barrow scoring.
Minehead replied with another try from Wing, James Day, before Ryan Love finished with a barraging run from short range.
At 33-28 Nailsea were piling on the pressure for the win, when Captain, Luke Sharp, was held up agonsisingly short. From the resulting pick and go, Nailsea knocked on giving Minehead the ball and the game.
Two bonus points were achieved for the Ravens who stay second in Somerset Premier League.
N&B now have a week off, but welcome League leaders, Wiveliscombe to the Ravens Nest on 9 February.
