Tries: Lockyer, Moyle
Pens: Ryan
By Kenneth Chow
After a stuttering start where games were cancelled due to a number of reasons, Barry 2nd XV finally began their season with a home cup tie against St Peters.
Under the new management trio of Joel Williams, David Williams and Glyn Pirso, the 2nd XV managed to field a competitive side combining enthusiasm of youth and experience.
On their first game in charge, there was a debut for Medhi Diche at centre partnering Brad White who returns from a long term injury. Also welcomed back were Adam Lee and Kyle Case after long absences whilst Luke Hewitson, normally a versatile back-row forward, was drafted in as emergency scrum-half.
It was no surprise that St Peters dominated early proceedings as they appeared the more settled out of the two sides. With their scrum powerful, they forced Barry to defend deep in their own twenty-two and the pressure eventually told with an uncoverted try.
The flood gates threatened to open as Barry’s hastily assembled side were struggling to cope with their well-organised opponents. However, the hosts’ spirit came through and through some determined defending there was no further score.
Half-way through the first half the momentum swung. Barry finally gained some hard-earned possession, and via some strong direct running from Harry Moyle, Sion Vidal and Brad White, set up the platform for an attack which was only foiled by St Peters indiscretion. Danny Ryan slotted over the resultant penalty to reduce the deficit.
Barry poured forward with invigorated self-belief and soon were in the lead. Slick play from the half-backs saw the ball reach out wide to Chris Lockyer, and the powerful wing did the rest, beating all defenders as he touched down out wide. Ryan failed to add the extras.
Stung, the visitors rallied and via some enterprising play pinned Barry back on their line. With the defenders running out of numbers a converted try was the result and at half time St Peters were back in the lead; 12-8.
The management staff rallied the Barry side at the interval and they came back out with renewed optimism. From at first fearing that this could be a one-sided affair, this new-look 2nd XV now have the belief that they could compete, and compete they did.
Barry turned the screw in the contact area with some great work from their loose forwards. When Ryan pinned a perfect penalty kick into the corner it seemed a score was on the cards.
The forwards did not disappoint. A perfectly executed throw-in from Campbell Prosser found Case, who set up the rolling maul from which there was no stopping Moyle who crashed over. Ryan failed to add the extras but Barry were now back in the lead.
Hopes of an unlikely upset, however, were overly optimistic as St Peters demonstrated their resources by emptying their bench against the tiring Barry XV. A successful penalty kick saw the Rocks regain the lead, and with the home side looking to chase the game from their own twenty-two, a stray pass led to another visiting onslaught which resulted in an unconverted try.
Barry eventually ran out of steam and the visitors would score a penalty try at the death to win 27-13.
The score, however, was not a reflection of the determination and spirit of this new-look 2nd XV side; if this resolve is continued there is no reason why this could not be another successful season after a difficult start.
Barry 2nd XV will return to action in a fortnight following a break for Wales vs Scotland next weekend. If you are interested in playing senior rugby, please contact us directly on twitter (@barry_rfc) or visit our website http://barry.rfc.wales.
Team: A Lee; Lockyer, Diche, White, T Lee; Ryan ©, Hewitson; Hall, Prosser, Bowditch; Deyes, Case; Evans, Moyle, Vidal
Replacements: Gaskin
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