BARRY 2nd XV 8-7 Rumney 2nd XV

Tries: Scott

Pens: Scott

Barry 2nd XV returned to action following the Autumn Internationals with Rumney their formidable visitors.

After a disappointing result last time out, coach Rhidian Scott and manager Ken Chow reshuffled the pack, making 11 changes from the side that lost to Rhiwbina.

The changes had a positive effect, as the home side came out with all guns blazing, surprising their visitors with their physical approach.

Despite Rumney’s efforts to negate the Barry pack by opting for passive scrums, the power in the Barry eight were evident early on as there were some good carrying in the tight by James Sullivan, Chris Prosser and Jason Evans.

Fly-half Ashley Adams was able to convert good ball into positive possession and territory, while the heavyweight midfield partnership of Tiernan Scott and Ethan Dicks proved more than a handful for the Rumney defence.

Wing Rhys Knapman saw plenty of the ball early on, but was unable to breech the visitors’ defence out wide. The danger signs were not heeded by Rumney, however, and following prolonged Barry pressure, Tiernan Scott punched a hole through the visitors’ line to score the first try of the match. Adams failed to add the extras.

Barry continued to crank up the pressure and were now dominating the line-out as well as open play. A Rumney infringement in midfield gave Scott an opportunity to extend the home lead with his boot, an opportunity he did not miss via the bounce off the crossbar.

At the interval Barry were 8-0 up, but the coaching staff were wondering if that was enough with the home side facing up the slope for the second half.

Rumney returned from half time with renewed vigour, but some superb work in the contact area, most notably from Jake Goodfellow, snuffed out any danger. When the visitors tried to spread the ball out wide, it was stopped dead by solid tackling from the Barry midfield, with Scott and Dicks in unrelenting mood.

The visitors did have two chances to reduce the deficit from kickable penalties, but both sailed wide as the game crept into the last quarter.

Game management became key for the home side and as all four subs were brought for extra impetus, Barry held out until the last play of the game when Rumney bagged a consolation try under the posts.

The final score was 8-7 and this was just reward for the most determined and accurate performances by the 2nd XV this season. The coaches and players should rightly be congratulated.

The 2nd XV will travel to Cardiff Saracens next weekend for a rearranged cup tie.

Team: Mepham; Knapman, Scott, Dicks, Poole; Adams, Williams; Morris, Prosser, Sullivan; Dutton, Rolfe; Goodfellow, Jones (C), J Evans

Replacements: Thomas, Elsworth, Evans, McCann

Man-of-the-match: Scott

Barry 3rd XV 3-33 Sea View

Pens: Hewitson

Barry 3rd XV continued their league campaign as they host near neighbours Sea View.

With four players once again dropping out of the match day squad within 24 hours, the job for coach Frank Greig became one of increasing difficulty. There was a debut for Jordan Clarke at full back, whilst he was also forced to select himself on the bench.

The disruptive nature of the preparations showed in the team’s performance early on, as there was a lack of accuracy in their decision making and execution. A well-drilled visiting side saw their opportunity to dominate possession and territory.

Against the slope in the first half, Barry found possession difficult to come by, not helped by some curious decision making by the officials and some naïve defending in the contact area.

The home side did manage a solitary penalty kick from the trusty boot of Luke Hewitson before the interval.

The second half saw Barry gain large amounts of territory, but a lack of understanding between the players and poor execution of attacking moves saw the advantage slip away.

As the home side tired Sea View sensed the opportunity to increase their lead and took it with both hands, ending up handsome winners in the local derby.

The 3rd XV will return to action on December 20, away at St Peters.

Team: Clarke; Rees, Hewitson, van Birgelen, Fogg; Bailey, Evans; Westall, Ring, Hall; N Thomas, Deyes; Templeman, Jones (C), Cleland

Replacements: D Thomas, Greig

Sub not used: Chow

Man-of-the-match: Clarke