LLANISHEN 31

BARRY 2ND XV 14

WITH THE Colts back in the squad ­ bringing the average age down to a respectable level, Barry Seconds travelled to Llanishen last Saturday.

It was an evenly fought battle up front with the Barry pack now getting their lifting technique right and winning opposition ball as well as their own, the mid week training sessions now proving their worth.

In the scrums and in the loose the forwards gained parity with number 8 Julian McTavish making a nuisance of himself at every opportunity.

However Barry were rocked by an early score from the talented centre pairing who cut through tackles to go in under the posts.

Barry soon hit back when their slick rehearsed umbrella defence caused Llanishen to blunder and Mole Williams neatly intercepted and touched down; he could have made Adam Lee's conversion easier if he had gone under the posts but the kick was accurate anyway.

Llanishen then responded through their outside half who proved to be a threat throughout the game, his score went unconverted.

The Barry backs tackled well and were ever present on the shoulders of back rowers Nick Rolf and Richard (Kiwi) Glover and were unfortunate not to cross the whitewash.

Llanishen responded when their heavy duty scorching winger kicked ahead and scored a converted try, however his threat was extinguished early in the second half when a sandwich tackle from Rhys Price and Scott Kenny quenched his fire, there was hardly a flicker from him after that.

The second half saw an early attack from Barry come up trumps when Adam Lee received an unexpected pass on the blind, he side stepped a prop rounded the winger and ran from 20 metres with only the fullback to beat.

The defender made a crashing tackle but it was not enough to stop the momentum, even the opposition spectators applauded this solo score.

The full back however took his revenge minutes later when a dummy switch in midfield by his outside half put him clean through the confused defence and under the posts.

Barry responded equally when centre Kyle Barclay ripped a ball from an attacker, and drove 30 metres only to be stopped short of the line by frantic tackles.

Llanishen gained the upper hand towards the end of the game, and after being encamped on the Barry line for what seemed an age, and having the ball deemed held up by the capable official more than once, the Llanishen forwards realised their efforts for an unconverted try. The final score was 31-14 to Llanishen.

Kiwi Glover failed to show at the Llanishen clubhouse to receive his man of the match award; however Mole Williams deputised and drank it for him.

Due to autumn Internationals the next match is in a fortnight on November 15, away to Canton, meet at the clubhouse.