Fixture

Tries:         Perry, Poole, White, H Jones

Cons:        Barros (2/4)

Pens:         Barros (1/1)

Barry entertained second-placed Llantrisant on a damp Saturday afternoon, as they aim to continue their recent winning streak.

Injuries to Liam Ring, Ashley Adams and inspirational captain James Hadfield meant that there were returns to the starting line-up for Dave Provis and Luke O’Sullivan, whilst Remy Frenay and Ben Such were promoted from the 2^nd XV following their impressive showing last weekend.

The disruption to the selection was not apparent as Barry started strongly despite playing up the hill and against a strong gale-force wind in the first half.  Llantrisant probed around the fringes but the Barry tackling was firm and turned the ball over for an opportunity to counter from their own twenty-two.

A well-executed kick found the visiting defence in disarray and following a hack forward by Provis, Brad White followed up, only to be hauled metres short of the line.  The Barry attack, however, remained patient and overwhelmed their opposite numbers with Tom Perry benefitting from a close range try – his third in two games.  Kyle Barros was unable to add the extras from a difficult angle.

Llantrisant were not making the most of the elements and seldom employed the boot.  Instead, they laboured around the fringes without making many inroads to the Barry defence which once again held firm.  The Barry back-row of O’Sullivan, Owain Poole and Hywel Jones were dominating proceedings at the break-down, and within the quarter hour their hard work would be rewarded.

Slick interplay in midfield saw Poole emerge with the ball with support on either side, but instead he threw an outrageous dummy to beat the last defender to score underneath the posts.  Barros added the extras.

Barry looked dangerous every time they came forward, and the centre partnership of Perry and White were at their devastating best, with Einan Scott orchestrating matters at outside-half.  Llantrisant did have a telling advantage in the scrum, but too often they chose the wrong option after dominating possession and territory with the chance begging.

Instead Barry showcased their ruthlessness in attack by creating an overlap out on the left, and it was White’s turn to get on the scoreboard as he grounded under the posts.  Barros added the extras.

The 19-0 score-line stunned the visitors to finally awake from their slumber and they piled the pressure on in the final embers before the interval.  Just when Barry seemed to have weathered the storm as they forced a knock-on, Llantrisant won a scrum against the head and was controversially awarded a penalty try.

The weather and ground conditions unsurprisingly deteriorated and anyone hoping for another high scoring half was left disappointed.  The final forty minutes became a game of attrition, with Barry seeking for the bonus point try whilst Llantrisant attempted to haul themselves back into the game.

The hosts have, by now, negated the Llantrisant threat in the scrum and appeared to have matters under control, especially after Barros had slotted a penalty from 35 metres out to extend the lead.

Barry emptied the bench to inject fresh impetus for the hunt for the bonus point, and it duly came with ten minutes to go.  Following prolonged pressure on the visitors’ line, Hywel Jones crashed over for the vital score.  Barros failed to add the extras but it mattered little.

The visitors piled forward into Barry’s twenty-two in the last five minutes hoping to gain a consolation score, but despite the home side being down to fourteen men, the defence held firm for an impressive 27-7 victory which saw the home side leapfrog Llantrisant into second place in the table.

This was yet another impressive performance by the green-and-whites which showed a combination of adaptability to the conditions, determination in defence, and ruthlessness in attack.  Long may it continue.

Barry travel to Porth next weekend for their SWALEC Plate tie, whilst 2^nd XV entertain Rumney and 3^rd XV host Sully Sports. 

Team:  Barros; Provis, Perry ©, White, W Jones; E Scott, Lee; Evans, Vidal, Hollister; Oaten, C Scott; O’Sullivan, Poole, H Jones

Replacements:  Such (for Vidal), G Jones (for Oaten), Frenay (for Poole), T Scott (for Lee), Ryan (for Provis)

Man-of-the-match:  O’Sullivan