Caerau Ely 10-29 Barry

Tries: Ryan, White, Adams, Perry, G Jones

Conversions: E Scott (two)

BARRY travelled to Caerau Ely a day after Wales’ disappointing result against England, attempting to bounce back from their own disappointment last weekend.

Despite the teams being on the opposite ends of the table, it was the home side which started strongly as their direct running and heavy pack caused Barry problems. A discretion in the contact area was duly punished by a penalty opportunity, which was well taken by the Caerau inside centre.

Barry awoke from their slumber and began to put in the phases as they advanced on the home line. Keeping the same backline that played against Dinas Powis, the familiarity of the players saw a good exchange between Einan Scott and Danny Ryan which sent the latter under the posts. The conversion by the former was a formality.

Sensing a quick momentum shift, Barry made use of the width of the pitch again, this time attacking from their own half.

After breaking up a promising Caerau attack, Ryan led the charge, and his superbly timed pass saw Brad White scoring in the corner. Scott failed to add the extras.

Some supporters were hoping that this was the signs of the floodgates opening but it was not to be, as the home side refused to lie down.

With a lineout deep in Barry territory, they worked the away defence superbly before scoring a well deserved converted try.

With the score at 10-12 the game was well in the balance, but the pace and accuracy of the Barry attack was to prove the difference.

Caerau resorted to infringing in the contact area to halt the green-and-whites, and with half-time looming the official lost his patience and to produce his first, but not his last, yellow card of the game.

Barry took full advantage of the sin-bin, and after a few well worked phases by the forwards, the ball was spread out wide where Ashley Adams finished expertly in the corner. Scott was unsuccessful with the conversion.

The away side came forward looking for the fourth try after the interval, but instead it was Caerau who appeared the more threatening, with their replacement scrum half looking particularly dangerous in open play.

However, in a moment of madness, Barry flanker Luke O’Sullivan became the subject of an unprovoked attack, and the result was a straight red card for the guilty party.

This time the momentum would swing Barry’s way for good, and the fourth try duly came from a long, hanging kick, which was fielded superbly by Ryan, who found Tom Perry from an audacious flick. The latter raced clear to score the bonus point try. Scott failed to add the extras.

Barry would score a fifth try late on, when some superb handling down the left was rewarded with Glynn Jones’ first try for the club, Scott adding the extras.

Even though there was late pressure from the home side which led to Barry receiving yellow cards of their own, the green-and-whites held out as 10-29 victors.

The 1st XV will return on February 21 against Llandaff North at home, whilst the 2nd XV will host Caerau Ely for a Mallet Cup tie next weekend.

Team: T Scott; Adams, Perry, White, Ryan; E Scott, Lee; Evans, Vidal, Sullivan; Tanner (C), Oaten; O’Sullivan, Poole and H Jones

Replacements: Hollister, G Jones, Goodfellow, Gallivan and Busuttil

Man of the match: T Scott