Fixture

Tries:         Deguara, Hollister, Cordle (2), Knapman (3), Scott, Miller

Cons:        J Williams (5/7), Scott (1/2)

Barry 2^nd XV returned to league action on a crisp spring day with Clwb Rygbi their visitors.

Coach Rhidian Scott and manager Ken Chow were afforded the luxury of not having any players dropping out in the eve of the game, and were able to field a settled side which included welcome returns for Marvin Cordle and Darren Deguara.

The improvement in the preparations was apparent right from the off as Barry put Clwb under early pressure in the scrum, with the front row of Gareth Hall, Liam Ring and James Hollister completely dominant, winning opposition ball with ease.

The pressure soon told when from a set piece on the CRCC five-metre line, Deguara forced his way over for the first try of the game.  Joel Williams added the extras.

With Barry completely dominant in all departments it was a shock to see the visitors venture into the home twenty-two, but their ruthlessness in attack was rewarded with an unconverted score.

Shaken by that show of defiance, Barry pushed their foot on the accelerator and tightened their grip on their game further – a grip that they would not let go until the final whistle.

Patient build-up play by the forwards saw the home side edge towards the whitewash, and from only metres out there was no stopping Hollister who crashed over for his sixth try of the season.  Williams’ conversion was a formality.

The floodgates were now blasted open.  Barry were attacking from all angles, and it was no surprise when Cordle raced clear to score underneath the posts for yet another converted score.

When Cordle broke the Clwb line again, he this time turned provider for Rhys Knapman to sprint through, who touched down underneath the posts.  With the bonus point secured, Williams added the extras.

By this point the visitors were begging for the interval but their misery was compounded when Knapman finished off a neat move to score in the corner for an unconverted try to bring to score 33-5 at half time.

There was no let off in the second half, as substitute Tiernan Scott crashed over for a try with his first touch of the game.  Williams was again successful with the conversion to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The side from the capital had no answer to the power and finesse of Barry’s attacks.  As their defensive line was breached again, the supporting Knapman was on hand to complete his hat-trick.  Williams somehow managed to miss the extras from in front of the posts before limping off injured.

A reshuffle in the backline saw flanker Owain Poole moved to full-back – a role that he excelled when he fielded a ball in his own twenty-two, side-stepped two would-be tacklers, before a booming kick earned his team fifty yards.

There was still time for Curtis Miller to force his way for another try, with Scott’s conversion successful, before Cordle finished off the scoring with Hall his provider.

The final score of 57-5 was a reflection of Barry’s dominance over the 80 minutes.  This is a result of the hard work and dedication of the players over the course of the season and in training.  The management is proud to be working with this set of players.

Barry 2^nd XV will face Rumney on Tuesday in the Mallet Cup quarter-finals before hosting Dinas Powis in the league next Saturday.

Team:  Clarke; Evans, Cordle, D Williams, Knapman; J Williams ©, Mepham; Hall, Ring, Hollister; Deyes, Dutton; Goodfellow, Poole, Deguara

Replacements:  Turnbull, Sullivan, Miller, Scott

Man-of-the-match:  Knapman