Fixture

With only two games to play and five points needed to confirm a third place finish in the League, it was expected that Barry would have needed little motivation as they faced Aberdare in last Saturdays penultimate game of the season.

In truth they appeared for much of the game to be concentrating more on the planned after match celebrations than the job in hand.

Despite a lacklustre performance they still managed to come away with the victory by 21 points to 19 , but made hard work of it despite dominating up front and having more than enough possession to have won by a bigger margin.

After looking threatening in the early minutes, Barry let the home side into the game with a succession of unforced errors and before they could blink Aberdare had taken a six point lead from two penalties.

Barry had not reached the home 22 at this stage as they continued to let Aberdare off the hook through their poor execution and choice of options.

Finally getting into home territory Barry launched a couple of forward drives for the line which came to nothing but earned them a penalty which they played to touch.The ball was taken in the lineout by O'Sullivan who somehow managed to twist and turn his way through the home defence to cross for a try which Barross converted to put them in the lead.

Following a massive clearance by Barross  from the restart, Barry found themselves close to the line again but despite having ample opportunities as the half wore on they could not add to their score and on more than one occasion it looked like it would be Aberdare who add to their tally.

As it was the half time score stayed at 7 - 6 in Barry's favour scant reward that the dominance that they enjoyed in the half.

Early minutes again saw Barry in the driving seat but still unable to avoid unforced errors which saw promising moves break down, and as so often happens they were to made to play for it.

A break downfield took Aberdare  close to the Barry line for a lineout and led to a forward drive which they were unable to stop as the home side crossed for a converted try and into a six point lead.

This setback seemed to spark some life into Barry and after working themselves into a good attacking position where a series of forward drives set up a ruck in front of the posts the home defence was split allowing E. Scott to cross unopposed for the try which gave Barross an easy conversion and Barry the lead by one point.

Barry continued to press the self destruct button and allowed Aberdare not just back in the game but gave them the belief that they could still win the game.

That belief grew as Barry yet again put themselves under pressure with poor decision making, forcing them to concede  penalty in front and Aberdare were now in front. Barry's woes were added to minutes later when poor defending saw Aberdare awarded a further penalty which stretched the lead to 5 points.

As has been the case quite often this season this Barry side doesn't like losing and they went immediately on the attack from the restart.

Their scrum dominance finally paid dividends when after a series of drives had been repelled the resultant scrum saw Barry drive the opposition pack, allowing O'Sullivan to score his second try of the afternoon , with Scott adding the conversion, to give them a 2 point 

lead.

With the game on a knife edge Aberdare kept plugging away seeking the score that could win the game.Somehow Barry's defence held firm and with time running out neither side were able to add to their score and the game finished at 21 - 19 in the visitors favour.

Not one of Barry's better performances but still a win is a win and keeps them still needing 1 point to finish in third position in the League for the second season running

Next Saturday Barry entertain Gilfach Goch in the final game of the season kick off 2.30pm.

Tickets for the Club Presentation Dinner will be on sale at the Club this Saturday costing £15. Numbers are limited so please buy early.

The Club Lottery Numbers this week were 05 - 08 - 18 and 21 and failed to produce a winner. The jackpot increases to £4575 this weekend