Barry RFC 2nds make hay while the sun shines! (From Barry And District News)

Barry RFC 2nds make hay while the sun shines!

8:00am Thursday 18th October 2012 in Sport

BARRY RFC 2nd XV 70 LLANDAFF NORTH 2nd XV 10

WITH THE proposed league match against Pentyrch postponed, Barry Rugby Club Seconds welcomed Llandaff North on a fine Saturday afternoon under clear blue skies.

Coach Rhidian Scott recalled Joel Williams to scrum half to partner Joe McCann, and youth hooker Sion Vidal made his debut for the 2nd XV. Kyle Case returned to the match day squad on the bench alongside Barrians player-manager Ken Chow.

Barry began the game at a ferocious pace, the tempo of which was alien to their visitors, and the speed of strike runners, in particular the Latvian international, Mikus Ozols, and Ryan Gooderham, caused havoc for defenders.

The quick ball generated to the half backs meant that the speed on the wings was released, and it was no surprise when Alex Evans broke free on the left, setting up Ozols to power over for his first try for the club.

The home side did not let up. Using the slope and elements to their advantage, and a little help from McCann’s boot, Barry pinned Llandaff in their 22, and more opportunities came and were taken by a combination of strong forward driving and elusive running by the backs. Alex Evans, Josh Flynn and Gavyn Elsworth all got on the scoresheet with less than half an hour gone.

Llandaff North seemed to have no answer to the power, precision and speed of the Barry back line as they struggled to cope with the direct running of Ozols who added another try, seemingly carrying half the defence on his back as he crossed the whitewash.

The score was all the more impressive as he had suffered an injury early in the half which later required six stitches in hospital.

Captain Nick Rolfe and Adam Lee added more tries before the visitors rallied and struck back either side of half-time, scoring two unconverted tries that their efforts deserved. Unfortunately for them, there was no respite, even when the Barry coach made six changes at half-time.

Substitute Luke O’Sullivan soon got on the scoresheet, and Lee got his second following another flowing move from the Barry backs. Gooderham bagged a brace and, despite Josh Westall’s sin-binning and the scrums going passive, there was no stopping the Barry juggernaut.

The final move of the game probably summed up the match. McCann utilised his boot to put the Llandaff North defence under pressure, Chow chased and regained possession, Gooderham played a pass between his legs to set McCann free and, from his chip, O’Sullivan gathered to complete his brace. Chow missed the extras.

The final score was 70-10 and was in no way an unfair reflection on Barry’s dominance over 80 minutes.

Team: Lee; Evans, Ozols, Gooderham, D Williams; J Williams, McCann; Elsworth, Vidal, J Thomas; Flynn, Westall; Jones, C Thomas, Rolfe (c). Subs used: Houldey, Hewitson, K Case, O’Sullivan, R Case, Scott, Dix and Chow.

Man-of-the-match: Ozols.

Barry scorers: Tries - Ozols, Lee, O'Sullivan and Gooderham (two each), Evans, Flynn, Elsworth and Rolfe. Cons - Lee (four) and Scott.