By Ken Watkins

Admiral National League 1 East Central

Ynysybwl 22 Barry RFC 29

Two late tries from Einan Scott ensured Barry clinched a deserved victory in a hard-fought opening league fixture at Ynysybwl, welcome revenge for a heavy defeat the last time the two sides met.

Barry quickly established their superiority in the opening minutes as their forwards simply drove the home eight back at set pieces and mauls, giving the impression it was going to be an easy afternoon.

They took a nine-point lead, with penalties from Kyle Barros in the fifth, ninth and 14th minutes, but then allowed Ynysybwl to regroup and come back at them.

The hosts replied with a try from Joe Griffiths following a penalty lineout in the 22nd minute, and Joseph William landed a penalty in the 29th minute to close the gap.

The first half was littered with penalties, and Barros landed a fourth after 31 minutes to give Barry a 12-8 interval lead. But there were signs that Ynysybwl were still very much in the fight.

Head coach Liam Scott had warned his players in midweek that Ynysybwl would be tough opponents. “They will always stay in the game, and they will be always coming back.”

Having almost taken advantage of some occasional poor tackling in the first half, which allowed Ynysybwl to gain considerable ground, only to be thwarted by Barry’s customary strong goal-line defence, they made no mistake soon after the interval.

Dewi Voyle ended a break from the halfway line in the 43rd minute, William converting to put the hosts 15-12 ahead.

And from a penalty lineout in the 53rd minute William went over following a catch and drive, before adding the extras to give Ynysybwl a ten-point lead.

Barry battled back and cut the deficit with a good threes move in the 58th minute, hooker Dave Provis joining the line and going over in the corner.

Back in control, Barry dominated much of the remaining time, and squandered a couple of good chances before finally regaining the lead in the 78th minute. Intense pressure on the Ynysybwl line ended with Einan Scott going over, Barros converting.

And as the clock moved into the red, Barry forced a turnover on the Ynysybwl line, and swiftly switched the attack across the field, Scott going over in the corner.

Barry are next in league action on November 27 when Treorchy are the visitors to the Reservoir Field.