News

First KO Round

Report by Ken Watkins

Barry’s eight-hour round trip to North Wales proved rewarding, a convincing victory over a strong Wrexham side earning the Bombers a place in the last 16.

Both teams went into this game unbeaten, Barry winning their opening five matches, and Wrexham, who included players from both the RGC and Sale Sharks Academies, topping their regional group with seven straight wins.

Barry, following their long coach journey, were understandably not as fluent as normal in their warm-up, and then spent the first 20 minutes trading collisions with the bigger home pack before switching to their customary flowing rugby.

“We literally ran them ragged,” said head coach John Dimond. “They couldn’t compete with our speed, and how we attacked on the fringes. Basically our fitness levels were far higher than theirs.”

Barry, perhaps understandably, eased off towards the end. “If we had been slightly more clinical,” said Dimond, “we could have had another 20-25 points.”

In their six matches so far Barry have scored 305 points, and conceded just 20. Seven of those came from a disputed Wrexham try on Saturday.

With the majority of first KO round ties being played on Saturday (29 October) Barry, having brought their tie forward a week, will have to wait to learn who they will take on in the last 16.

The majority of teams playing on Saturday are from South and West Wales, with Bethesda and Nant Conwy the most northerly representatives.

Barry scorers: tries – Evan Prosser 2, Cameron Williams 2, Victor Corrihons, Flynn Baker, Caelan Hurley; conv – Braydon Griffiths 5; penalty – Braydon Griffiths.

*Barry are home to Rhiwbina in the second round of the Regional Cup on 5 November.