Fixture

Barry 2^nd XV’s difficult season meandered towards a conclusion with the visit of Cardiff Quins on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Reservoir Field.

Coach Rhidian Scott welcomed the return of Kyle and Ryan Case, both appearing in their first games of the season, and also Lloyd Dutton and Marc Devine in the pack following long lay-offs.

Barry began the match with renewed vigour as they attempted to overwhelm their opponents from the off.  Utilising the raw power of the pack, and some direct running from centre Frank Peake and Rhys Knapman, the home side were able to make inroads in the first quarter.

Indeed, it was no surprise when Barry camped on the Quins’ line, and a score looked inevitable.  After several forays and close calls, the green-and-whites finally got over the line with Kyle Case crashing over from two yards.  Dylan Robertson was unable to add the extras from out wide.

Cardiff Quins struggled to get any attacking momentum going with the wind and slope against them, but they were also coming up against a resolute Barry defence who were excelling on the physical side of the game.

With numerous Quins attacks repelled, Barry looked to counter-attack and the pace of power of full-back Luke Bounds, ably supported by the half-back partnership of Joel Williams and Robertson, took the home side into the red zone once more.

From a quick turnover in the Quins’ twenty-two, the ball was quickly recycled and Robertson ran a superb line to deliver his team’s second score.  He was unable to add the extras.

The game almost turned on its head when the official curiously sent a Barry defender to the bin for a questionable high tackle, and when Dave Evans followed when he infringed on the line, Barry were down to thirteen men.

The visitors threw everything but the kitchen sink at the numerically inferior Barry but despite several close efforts, could not breach the hosts’ line.

The half-time whistle was a welcome relief for the besieged Barry defenders but also signalled the end of Cardiff Quins’ sustained pressure with zero reward.

The second half was a scrappy affair as both sets of players tired in the blistering heat, with mistakes creeping into the game. 

Back up to their full allocation of players, Barry looked the more likely as they exerted pressure from a number of driving mauls, forcing their opposition back towards their own line, only to be halted by the referee’s whistle.

The visitors did have forays into the Barry half but too often a lack of precision in handling and a lack of physicality in the contact area cost them the score that would bring them back into contention.

The Cardiff side would eventually breach the Barry defence when the home side were down to 13 men due to injuries, but that proved to be the last play of the game and the green-and-whites took home the spoils.

This game marked the end of the league season for the 2^nd XV, a season which have proved to be difficult for players and management alike.

However, if the players could show the same attitude and application as they have in this match then the future is surely bright for the upcoming season.

Team:  Bounds; R Case, Peake, Knapman, Gill; Robertson, Williams (c); Hall, Evans, Ring; Jones, Dutton; Richards, Devine, K Case

Replacements:  Ashill, Fortt, Gaskin

Sub not used:  Chow

Man-of-the-match:  Dutton