Fixture

 

 

Barry 2nd XV finally returned to action after almost two months being sidelined by the inclement weather, with a home East District Cup tie against St Peters.

 

Coaches Rhidian Scott and Martin Tanner, and manager Ken Chow had the task of dusting off the cobwebs from the players, and handed recalls to Liam Ring, Jake Goodfellow and Dominic Busuttil.  Harry Moyle made a welcome return on the substitutes' bench after a long lay off from injury.

 

Barry started as if they had not touched a rugby ball in weeks, which indeed was the case, and spent most of the opening exchanges conceding territory and possession.  With the elements and slope against them as well, the green-and-whites were forced to dig deep into the defensive resolve, but any chance of turning St Peters' ball over were hampered by the whistle-happy official, who seemed intent of stopping any competition for the ball in the contact area.

 

Despite a brief foray into the Rocks' half with runs by Jordan Clarke and Wayne Jones, St Peters put heavy pressure on the Barry line which resulted in a converted try at the half-hour mark.

 

At half time Scott rung the changes, sending on Lloyd Dutton, Moyle and Corrigan, and urged his side to up the tempo.  The rallying worked instantaneously as following a superb run from Wayne Jones in midfield, the ball was brilliantly recycled by Jamie Oaten, before Moyle powered across for his second try for the club.  Matt Russell failed to add the extras.

 

Barry were now sensing a comeback but a lapse in discipline allowed the Rocks to sneak another three points ahead from a penalty goal, making the task all the harder.  

 

St Peters then managed to subdue the increasingly dominant Barry scrum by going uncontested.  The official's reluctance to play the advantage rule to let the game flow, most notably when he called the play back when Barry had three men bearing down on the try line, denied the home side further momentum. Despite this, Barry hammered down at the away line for much of the last quarter of the game for that elusive try.  First Russell and then Owain Poole smelt the whitewash but was unable to finish, and through a combination of determined St Peters' defence and questionable refereeing decisions the chance was gone.

 

Whilst the final result of 10-5 was disappointing it was a relief for all supporters to see one of the senior sides back in action.

 

Next weekend sees 1st XV travel to Pontyclun, 2nd XV host St Peters (again, this time in the league) and 3rd XV visit Fairwater.

 

Team:  Mepham; Russell, Busuttil (c), W Jones, Clarke; Williams, Gallivan; Hall, Such, Ring; Deyes, Oaten; L Jones, Poole, Goodfellow

Subs:  Dutton, Moyle, Evans, Peake, Corrigan

Subs not used:  Fortt, Chow 

Man of the match:  Moyle