Fixture

Rhiwbina 3^rd XV  8-15  Barry 2^nd XV

Tries:         Adams, Robertson

Cons:        Robertson

Pens:         Robertson

After last season’s slow start, Barry 2^nd XV were hoping that they will begin in a different fashion for this season.

Caretaker manager Ken Chow and assistant Gerwyn Pugh combined some new faces up the club with some experienced campaigners, giving a competitive debut to no less than six players in the squad.

The lack of familiarity in the squad perhaps played to the hosts who looked a well-drilled side and were confident in possession.

With a number of experienced players in key positions, Rhiwbina made the most of their territorial advantage when they drew first blood via a penalty opportunity.

Barry finally got some ball and tidied up their discipline, and began to make inroads to the Rhiwbina defence.  There were good carries from Dominic Busuttil, Jonny Grant, Frank Peake and Curtis Miller, whilst the speed out wide provided by Matt O’Sullivan and Chris Bryant were beginning to test the Rhiwbina back line.

Barry drew level when Dylan Robertson confidently struck over a penalty to leave the score 3-3.

As half-time approached Barry upped the ante and after cutting open the home defensive line, make-shift scrum half Ashley Adams was on hand to crash over for a try under the posts.  Robertson added the extras.

The hosts emptied their bench at the interval to bring fresh impetus but despite a promising early start it was the visitors who once again dominated proceedings.

Barry continued to use a combination of strong, direct running in midfield and blistering pace out wide to test the home defence, but it was full back Robertson who prospered next, spotting a gap in his own half to evade all defenders, sprinting in to score under the posts.

Unfortunately the conversion hit an upright, and Barry looked to potentially rue that miss when Rhiwbina broke away to score a try of their own with five minutes to go.

With that conversion also missed it would take a converted score for the home side to draw level, but despite their best efforts the Barry defence held firm to record a victory in the first time of asking.

This was a tremendous performance by the 2^nd XV squad whom have found the going tough last season.  Hopefully this result will be the signs of the things to come in the rest of the campaign.

Next weekend 2^nd XV entertain St Josephs at Reservoir Field, kick-off 2.30pm.

Team:  Robertson; O’Sullivan, Busuttil, Grant, Bryant; Williams (c), Adams; Brooke, Evans, Davies; Hall, Jones; McCarthy, F Peake, Miller

Replacements:  Mitchell, G Peake, Dwyer, Gill