Fixture

Tries:         Peake

Cons:        Robertson (1/1)

It was another tale of all hands on deck for coach Rhidian Scott and manager Ken Chow on Saturday as Barry 2^nd XV travelled the short distance to Dinas Powis with a threadbare squad.

With seven players dropping out or failing to show up before kick-off, Barry found themselves under intense pressure right from the start with their hosts camped in the green-and-white’s twenty-two.

Matters were not helped by wayward line-outs and a creaking scrum, which allowed Dinas to dictate play early on, and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring.

The new look pack with debutant Cameron Quigley were struggling to cope with the better organised and experienced home pack, and it was down to some fine defensive work on their own line to stop Dinas from increasing their lead.

Barry slowly got back into the game with the boot of fly-half Dylan Robertson and strong running from Garth Peake, but a lack of cutting edge meant that chances were not taken.

Instead Dinas would score two more tries before the interval to put the game effectively to bed.

With no forward replacements on the bench, coach Scott was unable to alter his tactics for the second half and the pattern of the interval was same as the first.

Despite some brilliant work in the loose and tight by Rhidian Mepham, Robertson and Jordan Clarke – the latter of which moved briefly into the pack from full-back, the home side continued to dominate and this was reflected in the score-line.

Barry’s efforts, however, were not unrewarded as they had the last say as Peake weaved a devastating trail through the Dinas defence, running from his own half to score underneath the posts.  Robertson added the extras.

The players who took the field on the day must be congratulated for their efforts, especially Jamie Leech who made the bench having travelled to Swansea to collect his kit!

One can only wonder what this squad can achieve if only players took more responsibility in their availability to make the mission for the management not an impossible one.

There are no games left for the 2^nd XV in October.  They will return to action at home to Rhiwbina on 7^th November.

Team:  Clarke; E Evans, Russell, Peake, Adams; Robertson, Mepham; Fortt, Leighton Jones, Elsworth; Quigley, Westall; Lee Jones©, D Evans, McTavish

Replacements:  Bailey, Leech

Man-of-the-match:  Clarke