Fixture

Tries:         O’Sullivan

Cons:        Scott

Barry 2^nd XV travelled to the capital for a Tuesday night semi-final tie against league champions St Josephs.

The green-and-white’s preparations for their third semi-final in as many seasons were not ideal, with their arrival delayed by rush-hour traffic, alongside the usual last minute withdrawals.

Coach Rhidian Scott and manager Ken Chow were forced to reshuffle the pack, which saw Jordan Clarke promoted to the starting line-up and Chris Chucas poised on the bench for his second game of the season.

The lack of preparation for the game hampered Barry early on, as it was the side from the capital which looked more threatening.  However, at this stage, the Barry defence kept their discipline and held firm for no score.

Barry began to exert their impression on the game when strong runs by Dave Provis and Dave Williams in midfield briefly opened up the St Josephs defence, but a lack of cutting edge saw them empty handed this period as well.

Whilst the Barry scrum were working hard to demolish their opposition, the line-out was an altogether more random affair, and from this set piece St Josephs were allowed to build up pressure, which they ruthlessly took advantage to score an unconverted try.

Barry came back strongly towards the end of the first half, and utilised their dominant scrum on the opposition line, only for them to choose the wrong option when their forwards were marching towards a try and the chance was gone.

That provided the momentum swing for the Cardiff side and when Barry were down to fourteen men, they struck twice to put the game seemingly beyond doubt.  First, prolonged pressure on the Barry line yielded a converted try, before a penalty kick put them 15 points clear following yet another Barry infringement.

The poor discipline by the Vale side at this point was hampering any chances of an unlikely comeback, and lesser sides would have folded with the floodgates blasted open.

Barry threw on James Sullivan for the last quarter as a last throw of the dice, and it worked instantly.  The St Josephs scrum was demolished yet again, and after Barry had won the ball against the head, incisive runs from substitutes Curtis Miller and Chucas gave Rhys O’Sullivan the opportunity from five metres out.  There was no stopping the replacement hooker as he crashed over for his second try of the season.  Tiernan Scott added the extras as the momentum appeared to swing again.

Somehow Barry indiscipline – or otherwise the official’s whistle – came back to haunt them and far too often promising attacks broke down.  Barry pressed hard in the dying seconds but could not produce another score to create the thrilling finale the game deserved as they exit the Mallet Cup at the penultimate hurdle yet again.

Despite the loss the management would like to congratulate the team on their spirit and heart shown in a game with minimal preparations.  This shows how much the side has grown since the difficult start to the season when they did not break their duck until December.  Let us hope that this momentum can continue into the upcoming season.

Team:   Jones; Clarke, Provis, D Williams, Knapman; Scott, Mepham; Hall, Such, Ring, Dutton; Miles, Frenay, Goodfellow

Replacements:  Sullivan, O’Sullivan, Chucas, Miller, J Williams

Man-of-the-match:  Frenay