The Barbarians were the eventual 15-31 winners in tonight's Remembrance Day game against the Combined Services at the Recreation Ground.
The wet weather didn't dampen the spirits of the Rec, with both the teams and the crowd enjoying an open game of running rugby.
Despite the elements neither side were afraid to throw the ball around, but it was through a traditional, forward-powered driving maul that the first points were scored. The Barbarians applied the pressure early on, and from the lineout drove hard towards the try line. Flanker Jon Edwards was on hand to ground the ball, giving the nomads an early lead. 0-5.
The Combined Services may have been behind on the scoreboard, but they weren't giving an inch on the pitch. As the Barbarians looked to attack, the ever dangerous Peceli Nacamavuto intercepted the ball on his own 22 and charged his way down field to score. James Dixon added the conversion, taking the CS into the lead. 7-5.
Dixon stretched the lead just after half-time with a penalty, before Josh Drauniniu snuck over the try line in the corner to draw the Barbarians level.
The Worcester Warriors winger, who has also served in the Royal Navy, was scoring again moments later in typical fashion – intercepting a wayward CS pass and sprinting away to slide over the line between the posts. Fly-half Gareth Davies added the easy conversion, giving the Barbarians the lead once more. 10-17.
The see-saw nature of the game continued though, with the CS storming back moments later with a try in the corner from replacement flanker Luke Robinson. 15-17.
The experience of the Barbarians told from there on in, however, with first Man of the Match Charlie Walker Blair and then replacement prop Alan Brown crossing the whitewash. Davies added the extras on both, giving the Baa Baas a winning margin of 15-31.
