Satisfying win - but not a comfortable one for Barry RFC (From Barry And District News)

Satisfying win - but not a comfortable one for Barry RFC

8:00am Thursday 22nd October 2009

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Old Penarthians 13 BARRY 21

BARRY travelled to Old Penarthians on Saturday on another perfect day for open attacking rugby.

The start could not have been less auspicious for the visitors, who lost an early attacking scrum against the head, allowing Old Penarthians to advance over 80 metres downfield.

From this attacking position the home side were awarded a penalty which they converted.

Barry were conceding penalties including one for an inexcusable shoulder tackle, which on another day would have resulted in a yellow card for the perpetrator. After 15 minutes, Old Penarthians made pressure and possession tell with a well struck penalty, which needed help from the woodwork, to extend their lead to 6pts.

Although on the defensive for long periods, there were notable individual efforts from Ashley Brown, Danny Williams and Tom Lee.

However, things improved for the hosts after 25 minutes with a well constructed long-range try by their backs, successfully converted from an easy position.

The game now entered a crucial period. If Old Penarthians were to score again before the interval, Barry would need three scores at least to win. All this against a backdrop of being under considerable pressure in the tight and an inability to work the ball to their threequarters.

On the odd occasion when this group had ball in hand, they looked purposeful. Somehow Barry did hold out until half-time, despite coming under fire from a side which understood the value of keeping the ball in the corners of the park.

Each side of half-time Barry introduced substitutes Prosser and McTavish in a bid to stiffen up the forwards, in the belief that 'older heads' would steady play.

Barry would have to take advantage of the sloping ground in the second half. They would also have to utilise their superiority in terms of guile and pace in the three-quarters and at full back.

The start was not as planned, with Cummings missing an easy penalty shot after 10 minutes. But Barry were showing their intent with purposeful play, Rhys Hardy being outstanding.

The forwards were not to be outdone with Prosser creating pressure with a short-range sortie to the home try line. This resulted in a penalty try as the referee adjudged a try was only prevented by an illegal shoulder charge.

Barry began to serve up the sort of rugby of which they have recently shown themselves capable, but had been absent in the first period.

After 25 minutes they took a narrow lead through a well taken try by Taylor and coolly converted by the captain. This proved only a taster for what followed - a brilliant individual effort from Evans who dummied two defenders before powering through a narrowing gap to cross wide out.

The conversion by Cummings was the icing on the cake and turned out to be the final score.

This was a satisfying but hardly comfortable performance, and the Barry coaching staff and players should reflect on the costs of ill-discipline. One may criticise a referee, but the statistics of penalties indicate that the problem is closer to home.

In the last three games the penalty count against Barry has been 12/13 Cowbridge, 4/6 Dinas Powys and 8/15 Old Penarthians.

Barry: R.Hardy, N.Jones, A.Evans, D.Provis, B.Taylor, C.Cummings, T.Lee, A.Brown, R.O'Sullivan, S.Hunt, D.Williams,G.Jones, O.Brown, H.Jones, B.Gill. Subs. A.Prosser and R.McTavish.

Barry's next match is at home to Cilfynydd on Saturday at 2.30pm.

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