THE first month of the season ended well for Barry Youth who ground out a well-earned 12-5 win against St Peter’s on Saturday.

Sandwiched between their first league win of the season against local opposition Llantwit Major that ended in a 50-point victory for Barry, were two cup games against Cowbridge and Treharris which ended in defeat. But the focus of this year’s campaign is a strong performance in the Blues League.

Playing down hill in the first half, St Peter’s showed their strength and tenacity up front and pushed the Barry forwards all over the park and despite only having the bare 15 the visitors looked in control. With their new strip made possible by the generous support of LDS Motor Factors, Barry were not going to be pushed around in their own back yard though and, egged on by their supporters, number 9 Chad Travis gave an a la carte performance to secure a brace of tries in 10 minutes for the home side in response to St Peter's first score. The conversion from James Jones at outside half was good and Barry went into the break 12-5 leaders.

Lewis Samuels came on to provide some stability up front and a tight fought second half was expected. There were plenty of afters served up in the last quarter and the referee took a pragmatic view of who threw the first punch and who threw the last one. Both captains kissed and made up and Barry went back to defending their line superbly, keeping out St Peter's time and time again. With no score in the second half Barry came away deserved winners testimony to their tenacious defence and one or two gutsy performances.

The coaching team will undoubtedly be pleased with how few points the side conceived but there is still work to be done in attack to give this side a cutting edge that will take them into the heart of the opposition and across the try line. Definitely a work in progress.

Next league game Saturday, October 11, away to Taffs Well.