Fixture

Barry  32-12  Penarth

Tries:         Hollister, Evans, White, O’Sullivan (2)

Cons:        Morgan-Grant (2)

Pens:         Morgan-Grant

Barry welcomed the visit of Penarth on a dry Saturday morning for the season’s first Vale of Glamorgan derby.

After scoring a bonus-point victory on the road, hopes were high for the hosts despite a number of players unavailable due to injury or other commitments.

A reshuffling of the back-line saw Harry Morgan-Grant continue at fly-half, where he finished the game last weekend, and the return of Tomos Perry in midfield with Dave Provis and Chris Lockyer promoted from the bench.

It was the unchanged pack which exerted early pressure to give Barry the first blood on the score sheet, as the Morgan-Grant slotted over a penalty opportunity.

Despite the perfect conditions for free-flowing, running rugby, Barry were sensing an advantage in the tight and spent no time in utilising their power in the scrum and contact area. 

After prolonged pressure on the Penarth line, it was down to James Hollister who was unstoppable from five yards, driving over for his first try of the season.  Morgan-Grant added the extras.

Not to be outdone, his partner in the front row, Alyn Evans, began to exert his influence on the game, and he was rewarded with a try of his own, piercing the Penarth defence with his strong, direct running.

With the conversion kicked Barry were now 17 points ahead with less than a quarter of the game gone, and lesser sides could have folded.  However, Penarth showed some inner steel as, slightly against the run of play, they capitalised on an opportunitistic kick-and-chase to be rewarded with a try under the posts.

The conversion proved a formality and suddenly it was Barry who were under pressure just before the interval.

The pressure was released, however, when Brad White finished off a fine move in midfield to hand the impetus back to the home side. 

The visitors tried to mount a second half comeback and their efforts were rewarded by an unconverted try, reducing the deficit to 10 points.

But the Barry defence held firm against the Penarth onslaught whilst continuing to find joy in the scrum.  Indeed it was the hosts who had the last shout on the scoreboard.

The devastating pace of No. 8 Luke O’Sullivan proved too much in the latter stages of the game, and he bagged a brace before the close to make the game safe for Barry.

With neither conversions kicked, the final score was 32-12 to Barry, a fine victory over their Vale of Glamorgan rivals.

Next weekend the 1^st XV travel to Aberdare who are top of the table with 10 points after 2 games; it should make for exciting watching.

Team:  Ryan; Provis, Perry, White; Lockyer; Morgan-Grant, Lee; Evans, Such, Hollister; Deyes, Devine; Miles, Hadfield (c), L O’Sullivan

Replacements:  R O’Sullivan, Brooke, Oaten, Miller, Grant