Fixture

Barry 2^nd XV made the trip to the capital to visit St Josephs, who have had the upper hand on this fixture for the past four seasons.

The preparations for coach Rhidian Scott and manager Ken Chow were not helped by late withdrawals of Dave Evans and Luke Bounds, coupled with Kyle Case failing to turn up for the match.  In the midst of the confusion, Callum Scott returned to the second row for his first match in almost a year, and Mike Hamonda was moved to outside centre.  Andy Corne was included in the squad for the first time for over 15 months and was present amongst the replacements.

The disruptions clearly showed on the pitch as Barry began sluggishly.  Unable to control their possession, they were outmuscled in the contact area and from a turnover ball, St Josephs sauntered through to score a converted try via some non-existent tackling.

Barry were dominating in the set piece but the hosts played a fast, fluent game which negated the visitors’ power, and instead it was left to the green-and-white’s backline to bring them back into the game.  Captain Joel Williams led by example, sniping to break the line superbly before offloading to Garth Peake who powered through to score.  Dylan Robertson was unable to add the extras.

Barry now tried to attack deep from their own half, but disaster struck when a move out wide was intercepted and the hosts gratefully accepted the gift to increase their lead to 9.

The away side’s inability to control the game was clearly frustrating for all spectators and coaching staff, but just when all hope seemed lost Barry struck twice in quick succession.

With the St Josephs defence sucked into the middle of the pitch, the Barry backline finally fired to put Hamonda in space and he finished expertly to bring the visitors back into the game.  Robertson failed with the conversion.

Barry then capitalised on their scrummaging power when Curtis Miller picked up from the base and sped through to score under the posts.  Robertson’s extras meant that Barry were ahead for the first time in the match.  17-14.

Robertson’s boot will edge Barry further in front but they were pegged back just before half time, when more poor defensive organisation saw them concede penalty opportunities which brought the game back all square.

Coach Rhidian Scott emphasised the importance of protecting the ball carrier and not to go into contact alone.  At first his instructions seemed to have been heeded as a flowing backs’ move saw Rhys Knapman burst through midfield to score under the posts.  Robertson added the extras.

Once again, however, Barry failed to protect their lead and after they were turned over in possession for the umpteenth time, St Josephs struck back with a score under the posts.

The introduction of Tiernan Scott into outside half finally got the Barry backs moving, and with the home defence tiring, quick hands saw Hamonda in space again out wide and he beat his man to score in the corner. 

Robertson failed with the conversion but Barry were to score again to make the game safe.  This time the ball was recycled to the other wing and Knapman’s pace took him away from all would-be tacklers for his second try of the game.

Barry managed to close out the game in the final quarter but it was not without a few scares. 

The final whistle was greeted by a combination of relief and delight as Barry finally won their first league game of the season.  Let us hope that they can bring this momentum into the months to come.

Barry 2^nd XV travel next to Pontyclun on Saturday for the 2^nd round of the East District Cup.

Team:  Robertson; Peake, Busuttil, Hamonda, Knapman; McCann, Williams (c); Hall, Vidal, Brooke; McTavish, C Scott; L Jones, Poole, Miller

Replacements:  Corne, Morris, Hewitson, T Scott