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Barry start season with defeat
BARRY RFC 7
TAFFS WELL 18
AFTER a series of good pre-season training sessions, which for the most part had been well attended, Barry's 2007-08 rugby season started with a fixture against Taffs Well, who had also been the final opponents of last season.
Unfortunately, despite the high hopes of the squad and the Barry supporters, it was the visitors, who after a tightly contested game, were able to continue their 'winning run' with consecutive victories.
Despite the overcast sky, conditions were ideal for rugby. From the kick off Barry attempted to play an open game and for the first ten minutes kept pressure on the visitors' half until a charged down kick allowed Taffs Well to open their account with an unconverted try.
As the match entered its second quarter a successful penalty kick increased the Taffs Well lead by 3 points.
However, the home XV continued their running rugby policy and soon hit back when, following a long period on the visitors' line, a quickly taken tapped penalty by substitute lock Matthew Campbell set up the opportunity for Barry debutant centre Dafydd Evans to beat three tackles for an excellent try. Tomos Lee converted.
From the restart Campbell was once more in the frame when he burst clear on a 40 metre run, chipped the ball over the full back and re-gathered, but unfortunately lost the ball as he went for the touchdown.
Immediately before the interval, Barry's bad luck continued when full back James Hadfield lost his footing while kicking out of defence. The ball went straight into the hands of a Taffs Well player who raced over for a converted try and a 15-7 interval lead.
The second half was a rather dour session with Barry defending for the first quarter before finally giving away another penalty goal and an 18-7 lead for the visitors.
Despite all their efforts during the remaining 20 minutes the Barry players could not break down a resolute Taffs Well defence and the final whistle saw the score still at 18-7.
Although this was a disappointing result for Barry there were positives to take from the performance, especially the pace and determination shown by the younger players, fullback James Hadfield, centres Dafydd Evans and Gareth Osborne, and scrum half Tom Lee, and in the pack the front row of James Hollister and Lewis Williams plus flanker Owain Brown.
Barry squad: J Hadfield, D Provis, G Osborne, D Evans, P O'Sullivan, J Pritchard, T Lee, J Hollister, L Williams, G Elsworthy, J Campbell, M Tanner (Capt), H Jones, J Evans, O Brown. Subs B Gee, C Prosser, M Campbell, J Dimond.
On Saturday Barry travel to Llandaff North, whilst the 2nd XV are home to Llanishen in a C&DRU league match. Both games kick off at 2.30pm.
9:00am Thursday 6th September 2007
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