Barry's defense good enough in late onslaught (From Barry And District News)

Barry's defense good enough in late onslaught

BARRY 37PTS, BEDLINOG 10PTS

DESPITE the appalling weather of the preceding few days, the ground conditions at the Reservoir Field were fairly good, but a strong, blustery wind threatened to have a bearing on the match result.

Barry played the first half with the wind in their favour, and immediately stormed into the attack. This early pressure was rewarded when outside-half Rhidian Scott kicked a penalty goal to give his side the lead.

Two further penalties, although unsuccessful, ensured that Bedlinog were kept on the defensive, before Scott kicked his second goal.

In the 23rd minute, following a series of five metre scrums and lineouts, the visitors' defence finally cracked when Barry's captain and scrum-half Brian Davies charged down a clearance kick by his opposite number and touched down for an unconverted try.

This score galvanised Barry's determination to take full advantage of the weather conditions and tries were soon to follow. Pressure from the Barry eight in both tight and loose play along with the hard running of the centres, began to find holes in the visitors' defence and resulted in three tries by the interval.

A clever chip ahead by Scott saw winger Dave Provis cleanly catch the bounce and then sprint clear from 40 metres out for an unconverted try.

Within minutes, the Barry back row of Dai Griffiths, Tony Bumford and Lee David, drove hard into the heart of the Bedlinog defence; good ruck ball followed by quick and direct passing allowed fullback Tim Richards to send Provis on his way for his second try. Scott converted.

Finally, centre Grantley Harris burst through the Bedlinog midfield and with some powerful hand-offs, and the help of Bumford, crashed over the line for a try that Scott converted to give his side a 36-0 lead at the break.

The second half saw Bedlinog, who now had the strong wind in their favour, open with a flurry of attacks and within minutes they crossed the Barry line for an unconverted try. This was followed by a prolonged period of Bedlinog pressure as the visitors endeavoured to erode the local side's lead.

The Barry team was equal to the task and a resolute and disciplined defence thwarted attack after attack.

As the game moved into the last quarter so frustration among the visiting forwards began to show and this led to a few "explosive" incidents. In one of these incidents Brian Davies was felled by a punch that forced him to leave the field with a nasty facial injury; flanker Dai Griffiths left with a blood injury while a Bedlinog player received a red card.

Coach Andrew Prosser, normally a hooker, replaced Davies and Giles Sommerwill came on in place of Griffiths.

With the visitors now down to 14 men and with their pack tiring, Barry put the game out of reach when flanker Lee David capped a fine performance with the fifth try which Scott converted.

Bedlinog did manage to score a try in the dying minutes, but Barry were deserved victors by 37pts to 10.

The Barry Club would like to thank Gary Haigh of PINIT Building and Civil Engineering Ltd for his company's continuing support and for once again providing new playing kit for the 1st XV.

Thanks also to Mrs Bronwen Ware for sponsoring the match ball.

Barry's next league match is away at Crumlin on Saturday, March 9. Supporters should also note that the home match against Tredegar Ironsides is scheduled for Saturday, March 16 and not March 23 as indicated in the club handbook.

Following last Saturday's matches, the top clubs in Welsh National League Division Six East are: Barry P16, W15, D0, L1, F396, A185, Pts 45 Pontllanfraith P16, W11, D1, L4, F232, A151, Pts 34 Tredegar Ironsides P14, W10, D0, L4, F258, A233, Pts 30 Cilfynydd P14, W9, D0, L5, F267, A 181, Pts 27 Bedlinog P14, W7, D2, L5, F238, A173, Pts 23 Chepstow P14, W7, D1, L6, F268, A261, Pts 23