News

Report by Ken Watkins:
With the weather and Covid resulting in the postponement of Barry’s first two Admiral National League Division One East Central matches of 2022, head coach Liam Scott is looking for friendly fixtures to fill the growing gap between scheduled league games.

The home match with Rhydyfelin on 8 January fell victim to a waterlogged pitch, and Covid in the Rhiwbina squad ruled out the away fixture on 15 January. The next scheduled fixture sees Porth Quins due to visit Barry on 29 January, six weeks since the Bombers last competitive game, a 29-10 defeat at Rumney on 18 December.

If the Quins game does not go ahead, Barry face an even longer spell without a league match, the single scheduled February fixture at Mountain Ash having already been called off as the hosts are involved in a cup competition, which takes precedence.

“I’ve always been of the mind that this season would have challenges, but then when you get the fixtures you think you are going to be as close to normal as possible. Unfortunately it looks as if it’s going to be stop-start to the end of the season,” said Scott.

Apart from having to reschedule the three postponed league fixtures, Barry also have to fit in a Mallet Cup match against Rhiwbina. Barry, said Scott, are ready to relinquish home advantage when a new date for the league visit to Rhiwbina has been arranged. “Hopefully we can play that as a double header, the one match as a league and cup fixture.

“Even with games being rearranged, we are looking at weeks in between. We’re scheduled to finish on 12 March, but we may be playing the rearranged games in April.

“It may be that we end up playing more rugby in April than we do in a normal season. It’s not new. The weather always defeats us in January and February.”

With no scheduled matches in February, Scott is looking at the possibility of taking on a Scottish club side on Friday, 11 February, the night prior to the Wales v Scotland Six Nations fixture, as well as fitting in another friendly during the month.