News

Report by Ken Watkins 

Barry’s territorial domination during the second half failed to pay off until the clock was deep in the red, but their score came too late to save the Bombers from their fourth straight defeat, and a fourth game without a losing bonus point.

The damage had been done in the first half when table-topping St Peter’s, with the wind at their backs, scored three tries, all resulting from some generous official decisions. The Rocks took their chances, their third try, on the stroke of half-time, giving them a 19-3 interval lead.

It was a gap that proved too large for Barry to bridge, as all too familiar errors in the second half meant good positions were squandered. “We had them on the ropes,” said head coach Liam Scott, “but we didn’t look threatening enough until the closing minutes.”

The lineout continues to be a problem. “We had five in their 22 which we messed up in good positions. It’s that 20 per cent that we need to improve. That would mean winning two or three more lineouts in key critical positions, and the difference between winning and losing.”

Against four of the division’s top teams – Treorchy, St Peter’s, St Joseph’s and Rumney – Barry have lost narrowly, but not narrowly enough to pick up a losing bonus point. “It’s no good being close in games, and still losing,” said Scott. “Being competitive means we need Wins.”

Inevitably, given the wind and a pitch soaked by heavy overnight rain, it was a scrappy game, with both sides only occasionally putting good moves together, and frequent stoppages didn’t really help. Predictably all the St Peter’s scores came from errors rather than fluent rugby.

Isaac Marsh took advantage of a missed tackle in the ninth minute for the opening try, which he converted. The catch and drive paid off for Joel Coughlin in the 20th minute, and Ryan Newton in the 40th, Marsh converting the latter. Kyle Barros landed a penalty in the 30th minute.

Aled Rees scored Barry’s last-gasp try with a quickly-taken close-range tap penalty, Barros converting. Well taken, but too late to make a difference, so by no means a consolation.

Barry face another tough test on Saturday (January 14) with a home derby against Dinas Powys, who will be seeking revenge for their 8-7 defeat on the opening day of the season.

*Prior to the match, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Rob Weekley, club captain 1978-79, who died recently.