Fixture

Travelling to promotion hopefuls Gilfach Goch last Saturday was always going to be a difficult task made even harder due to the continuing injury list and unavailability through other events.

However finally managing to get a side together featuring youngsters with little or no first team experience, Barry took to the field and produced a performance full of pride and passion which was duly recognised by both home and visiting supporters in the Clubhouse post match.

The 50 - 19 scoreline m indicates a heavy defeat on paper but in reality it was a game where Barry were the better side for long periods and matched their opponents throughout.

Barry opened the game with a series of attacks opting for an open game to unsettle their opponents in which they succeeded and could well have had a couple of scores in the first ten minutes spurning penalty chances in the search for tries.

Gilfach at this stage were happy to defend and rely on counter attacks which the committed Barry defence marshalled well.

Barry's enterprising attacking style was entertaining the crowd but the danger is always there that errors can be costly and after winning the first twenty minutes unfortunately without any points to show for it they were hit by three tries and a penalty goal in the next fifteen minutes to turn the game on it's head.

Credit to Gilfach in that they were quick to pounce on any Barry mistake, their quick first up defence on occasion forcing these errors.They also took their chances in these situations and put the points on the board to lead by 24 - 0 with ten minutes to go of the half.

Heads could have gone down at this stage but Barry continued their open game and again got close to the line without scoring. They were not being helped by the referee where fifty fifty decisions seemed to be going against them and as half time neared they fell further behind as Gilfach scored another try following a lost scrum ball.Kickable penalties were spurned by Barry as they ended the half on top but 31 - 0 down.

The way Barry came out for the second half you would have thought the score was 0 - 0.but they continued to attack only to still find themselves on the wrong side of the referees whistle.

One promising attack broke down in midfield and with the defence committed Gilfach broke through for the centre to score a fine individual try which converted gave Gilfach a 38 point lead.

Barry refused to buckle and a penalty at the restart saw them close to the line.Driving the lineout they finally got the reward their efforts deserved as Alyn Evans drove over the line.Einan Scott kicked a fine conversion to give Barry their first points.

This years promotion is so tight it could be decided by points difference so Gilfach were in no mood to concede points and add to their tally.

They did this minutes later as the referee awarded a penalty try after a Barry infringement at a scrum.

Yet again Barry came back and continued to create chances but they were just unable to finish them off at the crucial moment.

One such move was to prove costly as what looked likely to be a certain Barry try ended with a score at the other end after taking the wrong option and losing the ball, leaving the score at 50 - 7.

With still time to go Gilfach went for the jugular but must have been surprised by the sheer determination of the Barry squad who refused to lie down and forced them back on defence with their continued defiance.

It was still Barry doing the attacking with Gilfach happy to rely on their solid defence and counter attacking when the chance came.

If they expected the game to peter out as the clock ran down Gilfach were in for a surprise.Their scrum was sent into retreat to earn Barry a penalty which took play deep in their half , and suddenly the referee was on Barry's side with a series of penalty awards which ended with them driving the lineout for Alyn Evans to cross for his second try to which Einan Scott added the extras.

Barry were penalised at the restart but regained the ball and set of for the line.Finally linking everything together the ball passed through several pairs of hands before crossing for a try wide which was not converted but left the score at 50 - 19 with minutes to go.

The last minutes saw Barry still on the attack but unable to add to the score as the whistle went to end what had been a hugely entertaining game of rugby.

It is only left to congratulate the whole squad, particularly those having their first taste of 1st team rugby, for a performance of which they can be hugely proud of and somehow as the supporters left the ground I know they did too.

Next Saturday we entertain Cambrian Welfare, the third promotion challenger,who will obviously eager to maintain the pressure on the other two sides with few games remaining.It would be good to see a big turn out of supporters next week to match those of the Welfare who at their home fixture made so much noise and with so much on the game will probably turn up this week.

Kick Off is at 2.30pm

The following Tuesday 8th May Barry play their final fixture of the season when we entertain Cardiff Harlequins with a 6.45pm

kick off.

No Lottery winners again this week as the numbers 08 - 10 - 13 and 21 were not matched.However four players matched three to claim the £10 consolation prize.Prize money this week will be £1500