Fixture

 

 

Following last week's disappointing loss Barry bounced back to earn a bonus point victory over visiting Pontyclun by 30 points to 13.

However it was only in the last 20 minutes that they drew away after having the lions share of both territory and possession but being unable to capitalise on it through indifferent ball

handling errors and some well organised defence from the visitors.

Barry took the lead after 8 minutes following some good driving from the forwards when Einan Scott kicked a penalty.

The lead didn't last long as the visitors broke into the Barry 22 and secured a penalty from a scrum infringement which was successful to level the scores.

With the Barry set piece operating well for perhaps the first time this season, Scott had time to put the visitors on the back foot with some clever tactical kicking.

This tactic was to provide Barry with their opening try as both forwards and backs were involved in a 50m move which saw Glynn Jones crash over wide out with Scott unable to add the extras.

Barry were playing some entertaining open rugby and forcing the visitors to concede penalties but were being let down by inaccurate passing leading to try scoring opportunities being missed.

Supremacy at scrum time was the catalyst for the second try as from a penalty Barry kicked to the corner and drove for James Hadfield to cross for the try which again went unconverted but gave them a 13-3 lead after 30mins.

From the kick off Pontyclun launched an attack deep into home territory and were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts which was somehow missed but did cost Barry a player to the bin.

They were further shaken when for once their defence failed to function and the line was breached allowing the visitors to claw back the score to 13-10 as half time neared.

A golden chance to extend the lead was missed after a fine break by Brad White was wasted with the try line at their mercy the final pass was dropped.

Barry had wasted more than one opportunity in  the first half and in reality could have had the game won by half time, but they were playing with some belief in themselves and working hard for each other.

Barry carried on where they had left off as the second half began and launched a series of attacks which came to nothing as the stubborn visiting defence held firm with the exception of a missed penalty from the same piece of turf that caused the visitors problems in the first half.

At the restart Barry failed to gather letting the visitors build an attack which culminated in a penalty award which brought the scores level after 50mins.

The referee was penalising Barry on a regular basis thwarting several of their attacks as they tried to turn the pressure into points.

Barry put Tom Perry on in place of Danny Ryan and continued to dominate in all areas but struggling to get the next score, and had to be satisfied with a Scott penalty to give them the lead again.

Once again with Barry camped in the visitors 22 they incurred the wrath of the referee and suffered a second yellow card and the chance to score.  Barry needed some inspiration to break the deadlock and it came as James Hollister in midfield bamboozled the home defence with a touch of hand and feet coordination usually reserved for jugglers to cross under the posts for a converted try to put Barry in front 23-13 with minutes remaining.

The effort the side had put in during the game demanded that they should be rewarded with a bonus point and that was to come as from a scrum on the visitors 10m line saw the ball spread wide with Perry making the break to score the fourth try which was converted by Scott.

Barry brought on the remaining substitutes and saw the rest of time out to leave a final score of 30-13.

A  welcome and much needed victory will hopefully have boosted their confidence but they need to be aware that failure to take chances and inaccurate passing can cost games in this very competitive League.

Next weekend sees Barry travel across to Dinas Powis, who have only lost once this season, for a League fixture which has been brought forward to 1.30pm kick off as the Wales v Australia game is at 4.45pm

 

Team:  Ryan; Adams, T Scott, Provis, White; E Scott, Lee; Hollister, Evans, Ring; G Jones, Llewellyn; Poole, Hadfield (c), H Jones

Subs:  Hall, Oaten, Frenay, Barros, Perry