Fine run of form continues for Barry RFC 2nd XV (From Barry And District News)

Fine run of form continues for Barry RFC 2nd XV

8:20am Thursday 17th January 2013 in Sport

LLANDAFF RFC 2nd XV 5 BARRY RFC 2nd XV 17

BARRY RFC 2nds were looking to continue their fine run of form as they travelled to a wind-swept Llandaff on a cold, wintry Saturday afternoon.

Coach Rhidian Scott and manager Ken Chow were forced to make a number of changes following numerous players unavailable due to work, injuries or first team call-up. Gavyn Elsworth made his first appearance in three months, and Einan Scott was handed a first start for the 2nd XV at fly-half.

The early omens were not good for the visitors when they lost prop Tony Heard after barely a minute, with Liam Ring his replacement. Fortunately the substitute deputised superbly, adding steel to a solid Barry scrum.

With conditions not ideal for handling, both sides were at fault in losing the ball in contact, but it was Barry who showed more intent when they did keep the ball. The strong, direct running of the forwards, led by captain Nick Rolfe and supported by Elsworth, Josh Flynn and Dave Hosking, forced the home side to concede a penalty within kickable range, but Scott’s attempt fell short of the posts.

Undeterred, Barry continued to use their forward power to dominate their opponents, and it was again Elsworth and Flynn who set up camp in the Llandaff twenty-two. The result was the unleashing of the backs, which saw Dave Williams surge through to score his fifth try of the season. Scott was unable to add the extras.

The green-and-whites pressed on in an attempt to drive home their advantage, and the home defence had little answer when Barry broke from their own try-line following a turnover from a scrum. The ball went through hands before Williams raced home from the half-way line for his brace. Scott added the conversion.

Barry’s second half cause was not helped early on with the sin-binning of first Hosking, then Andy Corne, and the home side got back into it briefly when they scored out wide for an unconverted try. With the advantage at only seven points, coach Rhidian Scott was baffled by some refereeing decisions, most notably the official’s interpretation of the laws in the contact area. Fortunately the players carried on their industry and were rewarded with a further score.

After Einan Scott had struck the post with another penalty opportunity, a fine break by the Barry backs from half-way saw Dave Williams motoring towards the Llandaff try line once more, but this time he set up the recalled Alex Evans out wide who finished superbly for his second try of the season. The conversion was missed.

Llandaff poured forward in the dying moments in a vain attempt to get a losing bonus point, but their forays were repelled by some resolute Barry defence, which had been near-watertight all game. The final score was 17-5 to Barry, and was fair reflection of their domination and enterprise during the game.

Team: Lee; Evans, Harris, D Williams, Taylor; J Williams, Scott; Corne, Hosking, Heard; McTavish, Elsworth; Flynn, L Jones, Rolfe (c).

Replacements: Ring, Fulton, Case, M Jones.

Man-of-the-match: Flynn.

* Barry 2nd XV return to action on Saturday, January 26 against league leaders Llanishen at Reservoir Fields, whilst the fringe players will look to take the field for the Barrians on Saturday, January 19 away at Sully RFC.