Somerset rugby round-up: Imperial stretched their unbeaten run at the top of Somerset One with a 43-10 home win over Bristol Barbarians, which keeps them in pole position ahead of Gordano on points difference.

The visitors were caught cold in the opening exchanges. Full-back Matt Edwards crossed after only four minutes, following a good handling move, for a try, which Ross Hickery converted from wide out.

The Barbarians hauled themselves back into the game, but it was Imperial who were next on the board when lock Mark Veale touched down after 27 minutes.

And another try soon after, from second row Luke Francombe on his debut, helped the home side forge 19 points clear.

Barbarians, who were under pressure all day in the set piece, gave themselves a glimmer of hope when wing Eddie Lowe showed good pace to pull back a try just before the break.

But two scores in the first five minutes of the second period wrapped up Imperial's fifth successive win.

An ambitious Barbarians attack broke down on the halfway line and Imperial swept turnover ball across the line for Nick Towe to dart over wide on the right.

And flanker Greg Wookey then worked hard to find himself on the overlap as more good handling was rewarded with a try.

Barbarians dug in to pull back five points with a fine solo try from Tito Payne.

The dynamic centre broke from the halfway line and then kicked ahead, watching the ball carefully to regather and score as it hit the corner flag and bobbled back into play.

The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the day, but it was Imperial who claimed two further tries. Player-coach Dean Payne powered over after a 50-metre run and hooker Sam Baker touched down in the final seconds.

Gordano kept the pressure on with a commanding 39-5 win over bottom side Broad Plain, thanks to tries from Paul Richards, Matt Wilshire, Rupert Gray, Andy Rees, Jack Thomas and Dan Isaac. Will Virgo added three conversions and a penalty.

Bristol Harlequins, meanwhile, marched on at the top of Somerset Premier following their 28-12 triumph at Chew Valley, where full-back Barry Stone contributed a try, two conversions and three penalties for a haul of 18 points.

Scrum-half Danny Phillips and winger Kevin Morgan also claimed tries as Quins pulled 28 points clear. But Chew ended strongly after being reduced by injuries to 14 men for the final quarter.

No 8 Ross Elliott crashed over from a quickly-taken penalty, while John Catchpole crossed on his debut for a try that Dan Fox converted.

In Somerset Three South, Chew Valley IIs made it five from five with a 30-12 win over Hornets IIIs to close the gap on leaders Wellington.

John Branch, Silas Cox, veteran Bruce Wellman and James Mckeag were among the try scorers for Chew, whose man-of-the-match was hooker Ed Pearce.