Wells 7 – Minehead Barbarians 5.

This was a real nail biter to start the new year, as Wells held on against high flying Minehead to record a narrow two-point victory on a pitch that can only be described as "soft, heavy in places".

There was a minute's applause before the kick off in memory of the late Graham Laws, a former player, club member and for a number of years the club chef, who sadly passed away just before Christmas. Graham was also the sponsor of fullback, Jason Attwood.

Wells welcomed back skipper Jamie Payne, plus his brother Al to the starting lineup and Aaron Cook was also back in the side at outside half.

Wells were dominant in the set piece but Minehead, despite being pushed backwards in the scrums, always got the ball away cleanly and their backs looked dangerous.

Twice they got the ball over the Wells line, but both times their score was disallowed. Wells also got close on a couple of occasions, but the half time whistle came with the score 0-0.

For ten minutes the second half looked like a copy of the first. A flare up after ten minutes saw referee Wayne Davis issue two yellow cards, one to each team, Cook deemed to be the Wells offender.

From the resultant penalty in the home team's favour Wells scrambled the ball over the line, Jamie Payne being awarded the try.

With Cook off the field, up stepped Will Greenman to take the conversion. A magnificent kick out wide and from heavy mud soared between the posts for what was to prove to be the decisive two points.

Seven minutes later Wells conceded a try when Minehead ran the ball from a lineout. The ever threatening backs for once outpaced the Wells defence to score halfway out on the left. Crucially the conversion attempt went wide, so now for the last quarter it was a two-point game.

For most of this period the home team soaked up the pressure and they held on to record an excellent victory.

This Saturday it is Weston-super-Mare second team away, but Wells seconds have a mouth watering local derby against Tor.