Charity Challenge Withycombe 17 Minehead Ladies 12

MINEHEAD Barbarians Ladies Team, the Pink Ladies, played their second game of the season last Sunday, when they travelled to Withycombe to take part in a new charity game between the two sides which will now become an annual event.

Minehead Under-13s girls provided a curtain-raiser for the main event and outplayed the home side to win by some margin.

Withycombe kicked off facing the sun and the strong breeze.

Rachel Parkins, instrumental throughout the game, got Minehead on the front foot, making vital yards.

Georgie Perkins, debutant Lissie Preston-Sheasby and Myndie Sheach took over as Parkins tired.

Minehead were deservedly first on the scoresheet with a try from winger Lucy Hastings out wide after a period of sustained pressure.

Withycombe began to put some phases together as their experienced fly-half put the ball wide time after time.

Minehead found themselves sucked in and Withycombe took their opportunity to even the scores.

The conversion was added for a 7-5 lead.

Kirsty Yeates found space regularly and was well supported by Karina Collins and Claire Woods.

Possession went from one side and Withycombe scored just before half- time.

With just three minutes left on the clock, Minehead had one more push with Dionne Jones putting a deep kick off into the Withycombe 22 which they knocked on.

After a number of reset scrums, Minehead won one against the head and Jones pounced to score and level at 12-12.

The second half was a very even affair, with Hannah Pawson, Anabelle Cottrell and Lucy Kidner working well at the rucks.

Amy Ahern put in a try-saving tackle and it wasn’t until the last five minutes of the game, when Minehead just ran out of numbers out wide, that Withycombe managed to score to make it 17-12 to the home side.

Minehead should be proud of the way they performed.

The Pink Ladies player of the day was Georgie Perkins; debutant Lissie Preston-Sheasby was voted forward of the day and Kirsty Yeates back of the day.

Over £1,200 was raised for charity on the day, with auctions, raffle prizes and cake stalls all contributing.

Next year, Minehead will host the game.