Fixture

Barrians  47-17  Old Penarthians

Tries:         Dicks (3), Harris, Beavis, Case, Bounds

Cons:        Adams (5/6), Dicks (1/1)

The Barrians returned to league action with the visit of Old Penarthians on a damp autumnal afternoon.

Buoyed by last weekend’s cup victory, the hosts went off to a quick start as the visitors were caught on their heels.  A clever reverse pass saw Ethan Dicks crash through to score with only minutes on the clock.  Ashley Adams was successful with the conversion to leave the hosts 7-0 up.

Despite that barnstorming start it was Old Penarthians who had the better of the early exchanges thereafter, and after missing a chance to close the gap with a penalty kick which sailed wide, they did equalise with a converted try with a quarter of an hour gone.

The Barrians ramped up their efforts as their midfield runners began to cause problems in the visitor’s defence.  Smart exchanges between the half-backs saw returning scrum-half Joel Beavis beating all defenders with his slight of foot to score under the posts.  Adams added the extras.

The hosts now have the momentum and did not relent.  After the Old Penarthians narrowed the deficit with a penalty, more pressure on the visiting line saw the ball moved through hands and Nathan Harris dove through to score.  Adams again added the conversion.

The Barrians seemed to have the game wrapped up just before half time as they unleashed their dangerous backline once more, with Dicks using a combination of power and finesse to barge across the line for his second try of the game.  With Adams’ conversion true the home side led 28-10 at half time.

With last weekend’s game still fresh in their memories, where the opposition threatened an unlikely comeback in the second half, the Barrians were mindful that they must press home their advantage.  However, yet again it was the visitors who drew first blood, scoring a converted try to send Barrians nerves jangling. 

The home side’s cause were not helped by first Joel Williams, then Adam Wheeler, both leaving the pitch with injuries. 

The momentum seemed to have swung the other way but the hosts’ defence was resolute and the visitors were unable to break through despite their territorial dominance.

Instead it was the Barrians who finished off their opponents with three tries in the last quarter.  First it was Dicks who was rewarded for his performance with his hat-trick try, before Kyle Case added a score out wide.

The best was saved till last when the tireless Luke Bounds got his just rewards when he finished off a move he started himself to outpace the Old Pens defence, scoring under the posts.  With Adams off in the sin bin it was left to Dicks to kick the last conversion with the final score 47-17 to the hosts.

This was the best performance of the season by far for the Barrians and is a result of the hard work and dedication by the players, coaching staff and management.

Barry Youth also won on the same day, beating Llantwit Major 37-22.

Next weekend the Barrians visit Penarth, whilst Youth XV are at Old Illtydians.

Team:  Adams; Forrester, Dicks, Bounds, R Case; Joel Williams, Beavis; Haigh ©, Morris, Wheeler; Harris, J Case; Dimond, K Case, Evans

Replacements:  Joff Williams, Vedmore, Ashill