Barry 2nds move up table after first league away win of season. (From Barry And District News)

Barry 2nds move up table after first league away win of season.

7:50am Thursday 4th February 2010

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PONTYCLUN 2ND XV 13 BARRY 2ND XV 29

BARRY returned to the road on a wintry Saturday afternoon as the visitors to a strong Pontyclun side.

With the return of James Hadfield and Alyn Evans bolstering the Barry line-up, the visitors started strongly. They pushed for the opposition line early on and were only just held up by some strong last-ditch tackling.

Using the pace of Ashley Adams, Alex Evans and Ken Chow out wide, Barry dominated early proceedings. Another venture into the opposition 22 finally reaped rewards as Lee Turnbull crashed over for his first try of the season. Adam Lee was unable to add the extras from out wide.

Pontyclun upped the ante. Choosing to play their kicking game, they finally managed to pin Barry in their own 22, but a marvellous break from Nathan Jones freed Joel Williams, who fed Ashley Adams to run from his own half, beating defenders on the way, before scoring underneath the posts for a memorable individual try. Lee’s conversion was a formality.

The home side did manage to close the gap with a well-struck penalty, but Barry’s set pieces continued to be solid, with their scrum giving the backs good ball to work with.

With half-time beckoning Hadfield charged down a clearing kick in the opponents' 22, the ball bouncing off the post before Hadfield himself grounded for his first try since his return to the green and white. Lee stroked over the extras in front of the posts.

The home side came out from the second half fighting, and were rewarded when they pounced on a Barry error in the visitors' 22. Electing to run the ball from their own line instead of kicking for touch from a penalty, Pontyclun turned the ball over and drove over to score. The conversion was missed. 8-19 to Barry.

Barry realised they needed to increase the tempo to prevent a second half comeback. A line-out opportunity deep in the Pontyclun half gave them the chance to add to their score, but when Andrew Houldey offloaded to the Barry runner, strong home tackling turned the ball over and the chance was gone.

Before Barry had time to rue their missed opportunity, they struck again to give themselves breathing space. First Kyle Case was at the end of a flowing move to score his second try of the season, before Ashley Adams profited once again with the ball being spread out wide at pace, and raced through in the corner. Lee was unable to convert.

Pontyclun were rewarded at the death when they pushed over for a try in the corner after a line-out, and it ended 13-29 to the visitors.

Barry move up to second in the table after their first away win in the league this season.

Team: Alex Evans; Chow, Alyn Evans, Jones, Adams; Williams, Lee; Hosking, Turnbull, Haskell; Hitchock, Dutton; Case (c), Rolfe, Hadfield.

Subs used: Harris, Earls, Houldey, Rendall, Manley.

Man-of-the-match: Hadfield, Adams & Case.

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