11:38am Thursday 23rd November 2006
PENARTH 1ST XV 17 BARRY 1ST XV 19 NEVER MIND the Autumn internationals in Cardiff - the clash at Penarth Athletic Ground was always going to be the big game of the month.
And the reward for Barry's victory was outright second place in the division league table.
Barry captain Matthew Campbell emphasised in the pre-match dressing room pep talk why his former team had to be beaten.
On a pitch that was extremely wet underfoot, and playing into a strong wind, it was Barry's defensive strengths that were needed in the opening 15 minutes.
However, the most clear-cut scoring opportunity fell to Barry after absorbing huge pressure on their try line.
After working their way into the Penarth half, a great midfield break by centre Andy Buckland saw his scoring pass squandered.
Penarth did score first when, from a five metre lineout, their forwards forced their way over for a converted try - the first conceded by Barry since the season's opening game.
Barry countered with a number of forward drives in open play, with flanker Owain Brown actually crossing the try line with only an opponent's foot under the ball denying a score.
Not long after, the breakthrough came.
As the Penarth outside-half attempted a clearance kick from his try line, the sight of Barry scrum-half John Dimond bearing down on him saw his effort fall well in from touch.
Winger Marvin Cordle, making up for his earlier missed scoring opportunity, clearly caught the high ball at pace 25 metres out, and burst through a static defence to score a great try.
The wind eased off and when Penarth scored an unconverted try through the back line in first half injury time it looked as though it was not to be Barry's day.
Even more so when, after only two minutes of the second half, Dimond was yellow carded when involved at a collapsing maul.
From the resulting penalty, a pushover try similar to the first effort opened up a 12-point lead for the Seasiders.
Crucially no further score was conceded while a man down.
Then Geraint Manning went on as scrum half and Lewis Williams for O Brown, to join half-time prop replacement John Stringer, to put Barry back at full strength.
Numerous attacking positions seemed to be harshly penalised but Barry never gave up.
This perseverance was eventually rewarded when outside-half Andy Griffiths made one of his trademark close range gap bursters to score out wide.
A superb conversion effort from another Penarth old boy, Chris Cummings, gave the visitors 10 minutes to complete the comeback as the wind picked up again to assist.
With the clock approaching stoppage time one final effort was required by either side to secure the spoils.
The match-winning moment came from scrum half Manning when he charged down an attempted clearance kick.
The sideways bouncing ball ironically found its way to centre Cummings who, after sliding behind the posts, followed up with a cool conversion to rub salt into the wounds of his former club.
Penarth were kept out of penalty kicking range for the final minutes and the team and supporters were stunned and gutted when the referee blew for time.
Barry have played better this season, especially at the ruck clear out situation, and will need to do so if they are to achieve a result away against unbeaten league leaders Bedlinog on Saturday, December 2, in the top-of-the-table clash.
Barry team v Penarth: R Hardy, P O'Sullivan, A Buckland, C Cummings, M Cordle, A Griffiths, J Dimond, J Haskell, B Gee, J Hollister, M Campbell (C), J Campbell, H Jones, J Evans, O Brown. Subs R Cummings, G Manning, L Williams, J Stringer.
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