Fixture

Barry 2^nd XV returned to league action as they host St Josephs on a damp Saturday afternoon.

With their squad decimated with injuries, players unavailable and players failing to turn up, coach Rhidian Scott was forced to recall former manager Ken Chow in pack down as hooker, alongside Liam Ring who started his first game of the season.  Ethan Dicks also returned to the starting line-up after over 12 months out, whilst George Chucas and Tom Ivins awaited their 2^nd XV debut from the replacement bench.

The opening omens were not good, as Barry indiscipline infuriated the referee with penalty following penalty.  St Josephs built up sustained pressure and eventually it told with an unconverted try.

Barry did make inroads to the visiting defence, with Harry Moyle and Dicks especially effective in carrying.  Unfortunately they were continuously pegged back by a combination of lack of discipline and ruthlessness, and they returned empty handed after a foray into the opposition’s twenty-two.

The introduction of Chris Chucas injected some much needed urgency and pace in the home back-line, but it was in defence that organisation and application were sorely lacking, and as such St Josephs took full advantage to rack up 21 unanswered points.

At 24-0 down, it was looking ominous for the green-and-whites who have had a poor run in the league anyway, but the players showed great heart and determination to rally and get themselves back into the game.

After some good ball retention in the St Josephs twenty-two, the pressure finally told as Dicks crashed over under the posts.  Joel Williams stroked over the extras to reduce the deficit.

At half time stern words were exchanged and Barry started the second half like a team rejuvenated, putting the visitors under pressure straight from the off.

Following a series of penalties, Barry took advantage of their territorial superiority when a Dicks break was finished off by Owain Poole burrowing over.  Williams failed to add the extras.

Sensing an unlikely comeback, Barry poured forward but some loose possession allowed the away team to counter attack and score an unconverted try against the run of play.

Undeterred, the hosts continued their increased tempo and continued to camp at opposition territory, despite the game being progressively fragmented due to the referee’s whistle.

Switching play from right to left, a bullocking run from Gareth Hall brought territory, and when Williams’ pass out wide to Elliot Evans was knocked on deliberately by a St Josephs hand with just metres to go from the try line, a penalty try was the result.  Williams added the extras to leave Barry ten points behind.

The green and whites continued to batter at the visitors’ door but were eventually beaten by some fine rearguard action and the final whistle.

It was pleasing to see that despite the disruptions to the preparations the nineteen players who took the field wore the shirt with pride and, especially in the second half, showed the sort of determination and attitude that is required to turn the season around. 

Barry 2^nd XV return to action on 4^th March away at Rhiwbina.

Team:  Robertson; E Evans, D Evans, Dicks, Gaskin; Williams (c), Leech; Ring, Chow, Such; Hall, Jones; J Chucas, Poole, Moyle

Replacements:  Ivins, G Chucas, C Chucas, Bailey

Man-of-the-match:  Moyle

Referee:  C Hunt