Ladies complete the double over Minehead

Withycombe's ladies side travelled to Minehead where they extended their unbeaten streak to five games. They started brightly, with Bridget Culver picking from the scrum base and offloading to Sian illiams who dived under the posts to open the scoring on six minutes. It would be another 25 before they scored again though as some ring rust took its toll on their decision making! The Withy girls tried to run the ball from everywhere on the sticky Minehead pitch and were fortunate that Minehead failed to tuck away a few chances in the first half. Withycombe then added insult to injury when Culver's long kick downfield was gathered by "speedy knickers" Claire Stoakes, who got her reward two phases later when she crossed the whitewash from close range. Andrea Parkin converted to make it 14-0 at half time.

Withycombe dominated the second half and it was dame of the day Stoakes whose midfield break set the scene for the next try. The Minehead defence gave away a penalty under the pressure and after Michelle Bugbee had driven forward from the tap, Tracey Cox picked and went from close range and caught the defence napping. Nine minutes later Bugbee was involved again - and made sure this reporter knew it - as she hooked a ball against the head. Bridget Culver, who was now moonlighting at fly half as cover for the injured Sian Williams, took advantage of the flat Minehead backline with a chip and chase, which she soccered on and regathered before flopping under the posts.

Withycombe could have had even more tries - most notably as prop forward Anna Maria Mazzieri as her footwork put her through the last line of Minehead's defence, only for her hands to fail her with the tryline begging. Never one for schooling her features, Mazzieri's body language betrayed her frustration, but Withycombe would score not long after. Having tried time and again t run through people, Amy Gillard's quick hands put Beckie Stephens in space two metres out to go over for her maiden try. Andrea Parkin's fourth conversion of the day made t 33-0. Minehead never gave up and got themselves a well deserved consolation try with the last play of the game, but Withycombe ran out clear winners for the fifth time in a row this season. Their next match come in the form of St Austell Angels visiting Raleigh Park on the 7th February.