Fixture

By Andy Moffat

Tries:  Corrigan, Evans, Peake

Cons:  Forrester

After months of waiting for the chance to play rugby, Barry 3rds were fixtured away to local rivals Sea View on a freezing Barry Boys pitch. 

Ashley Adams was brought in at scrum half and Rhys O'Sullivan given the chance to prove his fitness in the front row after a lengthy period out with injury . Debut was given to new signing Marc Devine and the team welcomed back Rob Williams and Jon Morris. The team were supported well by fellow team mates and the game started with the Barry pack in the ascendancy.

Capt Nick Rolfe was able to make several telling drives into the Sea View defence after solid scrums.  From another attacking scrum Adams collected the ball and intelligently used his pace to out manoeuvre the View backs . Unfortunately his kick and chase didn't pay off, much to the amusement of the large Barry support. Centres Dave Evans and Garth Peake were making in roads into the View defence and Barry camped in the Sea View half. After good link up play by Lloyd Dutton, Rolfe, Jones, Devine and Lee Turnbull Barry found themselves on the Sea View line . Following several forward drives the ball was re-cycled to Ryan Corrigan who muscled his way over for the first try . The conversion hit the wrong side of the upright 0-5 .

The game re-started with Barry again putting View on the back foot and finding territory and possession . Following strong play by Peake wing Chris Bailey darted down the blind side and his kick ahead was only narrowly kicked out near the 5 metre line. Following the line out take and resultant scrum the 3/4s shipped the ball brilliantly for Centre Evans to power his way over . Full back Ashley Forrester converted 0-12. Barry maintained their pressure on the home defence and Centre Peake's strong play was rewarded with a try. Forrester again adding the extra points 0-19 . Barry pushed for the fourth try but solid View defence and the odd wrong choice prevented it . Half time score 0-19 . Barry made 3 changes at half time with Jamie Leech coming on at 9, Morris to the blind side and young Tom Hunt placed in the boiler house front row. Seaview also made some changes . This was the proverbial game of 2 halves as whether Barry took me their foot of the gas or Seaview raised their game, th roles we reversed . Seaview to their credit came out snatching the scrum dominance away from Barry and exerted their own pressure . If the first half was about the Barrians attacking prowess this half showed the mettle of their defence . As they battered View in the first half so View exerted more and more pressure on the Barrians . ' They shall not pass' was the call from the side lines and indeed Seaview were prevented in scoring any points but some heroic defending . Corrigan picked an injury resulting in a re shuffle with Gareth Hall coming on late on . Ill discipline cost Barrians valuable ground time after time which must be corrected . However, the offending players made amends for their errors by laying their bodies on the line . The game finished 0-19 to the Barrians and the spoils from a hard fought victory. Well done to Seaview in their second half performance . The Management would like to thank all of the large Barry crowd for their vocal support ( following the 1st Teams late cancellation ) Devine had a solid debut as did returning players Williams and Morris. Barrians were able to celebrate the spoils later on in the clubhouse.

Team : O'Sullivan, Turnbull, Fortt, Dutton, Williams, Jones,Devine , Rolfe(C), Adams,Corrigan,Evans, Peake, Evans ,Bailey Forrester Subs (Who all got on) Leech Morris, Hunt and Hall.

The future looks healthy for Barry Rfc with this strength in depth at 3rd team level. Barry 3rds next fixture is Sat 13th Feb v a touring Barcelona side, with Barry Ladies also playing a fixture against Barcelona Ladies the same day . Everyone welcome to come and support 10 30 Ko with Barry 2nds at home in the afternoon v Caerau Ely Ko 1 30.

Barry Rfc Mega4 Lottery was not claimed so the fortune rolls onto this Sat draw. You have to be in it to win it 😎 AM