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Match report by Ken Watkins

Barry 33 Cardiff Met 5

Barry returned to action, following a three-week break, with a positive and impressive display that saw them run in five tries against Cardiff Met in a game that was always high tempo. Although technically a pre-season friendly, this match was just the kind of test head coach Liam Scott wanted against always competitive opponents as Barry build up to the start of the league season on 13 November. The excellent performance followed a good week in training. “We had good numbers, and everyone involved trained well on Thursday, which allowed us to get into detail, and to execute a good game plan,” said Scott. “We can’t play as we have done in fits and spurts. We’ve got to have a good performance from the first minute to the 80th. The significant difference was that the forwards had a real good game. The scrum and lineout worked well, and that allowed the backs to play a bit. “Cardiff Met tried to play for the whole game, and I don’t think we’ll come up against teams with that level of aerobic fitness in the season. This was a real good test, a really good performance, and a really good game.”

In a match full of fast, flowing rugby, Barry took the lead after 11 minutes when Ashton Allen finished off a drive after Cardiff Met had been penalised in the red zone, Einan Scott converting. Despite plenty of running and ambitious rugby from both sides, a second score didn’t come until two minutes before the break when, following a kick ahead and chase, Dave Provis gave Barry a 12-0 interval lead. Cardiff Met tested Barry at times early in the second half, but some excellent defensive work kept them out until the 64th minute when Jack Davies, who always looked a threat, outpaced the defence to score in the corner. Barry quickly hit back, Alyn Evans surging over three minutes later after a lineout and drive, with Scott converting. In the last few minutes Barry added further tries. Ethan Dicks weaved through the defence in the 78th minute, and Dom Busuttil ended another good passing move with the clock in the red. Scott converted both.

Barry’s build-up continues with a visit to Cardiff Met on Saturday. “This week gives us a chance to look at what went well and what didn’t today,” said Scott, “and an opportunity to see how we progress over the next week”. The pre-season build-up ends with a home Mallet Cup tie against fellow 1 East Central opponents St Peter’s on 23 October, prior to the international break.