Fixture

Barry 2^nd XV were unable to reverse their poor league from despite a scintillating attacking performance at the Vale of Glamorgan derby.

Coach Rhidian Scott and manager Ken Chow were once again faced with numerous last minute withdrawals from a number of players with a variety of reasons.  They were forced to once again delve deep in the club’s resources to field a squad of 19, with seven changes to the starting line-up.

Barry shrugged off the less than ideal preparations and fired the first shot.  A neat exchange in midfield saw Danny Ryan pierce the Dinas defence, and he beat the last man to score his third try of the season.  Ryan was unable to add the extras.

This was however a false dawn as Barry’s frailties appeared almost immediately after taking the lead.  Non-existent tackling in the fringes allowed Dinas to march forward and score a converted try.

Ryan and his opposite kicker exchanged penalties as the lead briefly changed hands, but despite having the advantage of the elements Barry were unable to form a cohesive defensive unit.  Dinas rattled up the tries in the next twenty minutes, taking advantage of more poor tackling.

Barry did look dangerous with ball in hand but they were unmuscled and unfought in the contact area, and when they finally had some meaningful possession, they created an opportunity out wide, where veteran David Provis finished expertly to bring Barry back in the game.  Ryan was unable to add the extras leaving the score at 22-13 at half time.

Barry fought back after the interval as they began controlling their possession better, and got on the scoresheet again when Ryan broke free to score his second try of the game.  His conversion meant that the green-and-whites are now only 2 points behind.

Barry poured forward and this time it was Dinas who had no reply, and seemed to have taken the lead when Joel Williams broke the line, fed Ryan who ran in for his hat-trick, only for the official to call the play back for a non-existent forward pass.

Barry would not recover from that set back as their defence buckled under pressure, not aided by a serious injury to prop Ashley Brown.  We obviously wish him a speedy recovery.

Dinas scored again as the game broke up, but Barry never gave up as an attacking unit.  First Dylan Robertson waltzed through a bamboozled defence to score under the posts, with Ryan adding the extras. 

The hosts extended their lead again but Ryan would get his hat-trick try that his performance deserved, before Barry scored a superb team try at the death, with Joe McCann finishing off a wonderful attacking move.  Ryan added the conversion to take his personal points tally to 26.

It was a disappointing result for the side which showed glimpses of promise in attack, but once again the frailties in defence let the side down on another game that they could have won.  Barry 2^nd XV will return to action after the autumn internationals in December.

Team:  Robertson; Chucas, Ryan, Provis, Poole; Williams (c), McCann; Hall, Brown, Hunt; Deyes, Rolfe; Morris, Goodfellow, McTavish

Replacements:  Corne, Turnbull, Ashill, Pugh

Barry 3^rd XV  45-32  Llandaff 2^nd XV

Tries:         Adams (2), Poole, A Evans, Chucas, Bailey, Rolfe

Cons:        Adams (5)

Barry 3^rd XV finally returned to action as they hosted Llandaff 2^nd XV in what was their first game since their cup final appearance last season.

Caretaker manager Gerwyn Pugh was buoyed by the return of some long term absentees as the 3^rd XV finally managed to get a competitive side together.

As it was, they produced a highly entertaining game which went end-to-end with a glut of tries being scored by both sides.

Scrum-half Ashley Adams bagged a brace to send his side on their way to a bonus-point victory.

Captain Nick Rolfe led by example and also crossed.  There was also a try for fly-half Chris Bailey, full back Tom Poole, and a first try of his career for Joe Chucas.

Substitute Alyn Evans added another try to his column when he came off the bench to complete an emphatic win.

Credit must be given to their opponents Llandaff who fought right till the end and produced some superb performances and tries of their own, to add to the fact that they arrived with only 12 men.

Barry 3^rd XV will return to action in two weeks when they visit Llanishen.

Team:  Poole; Rees, Mathews, Chucas; Bailey, Adams; Hunt, Turnbull, Fortt; Jones, Ivins; Rolfe (c), Ashill, J Evans

Replacements:  E Evans, A Evans, Miles, Goodfellow, Ryan