AN ABSORBING, attritional match at Cefn Cribwr saw Barry’s bold tilt at a national title brought to an end. Quins emerged victorious, but their elation was tempered by the knowledge that the result could so easily have gone the other way.

Both sides produced a quality battling performance, dominated by superb, well-matched defences, and there was no disgrace in defeat for the Bombers. They did not let themselves down, but sadly were undermined by a series of mystifying official decisions.

Playing with the fierce wind at their backs, Quins spent much of the first half going forward. That usually earns penalties, and the three they were awarded, if the reasons were not always obvious, gave them a 9-0 half-time lead, Ellis Thomas on target in the fourth, 18th and 27th minutes.

Barry And District News: Will Humphries converts Barry’s second half try to put the Bombers in front. Picture: Judith Dutton

Will Humphries converts Barry’s second half try to put the Bombers in front. Picture: Judith Dutton

“It was an amazing game from start to finish,” said head coach John Dimond, who felt Barry controlled things quite well in the first half. “Three penalties gave them a bit of leeway, but I didn’t feel at any time they would really bother us. They didn’t look that threatening.”

But, as he acknowledged, the Quins defence shut Barry’s back line down fairly quickly, and Barry were rarely able to get their normal flowing running game going. Equally, Quins struggled to produce fluid moves, such was the ferocity of the defensive collisions. “My forwards stepped up, covered the ground, and bailed everyone out.”

Barry battled their way back after the interval, Will Humphries slotting over a penalty in the tenth minute of the second half. They followed up with try from Dafydd Jones four minutes later, rounding off a catch and drive from a penalty lineout, Humphries converting to put the Bombers in front.

Barry And District News: Dafydd Jones rounds off a catch and drive for Barry’s try. Picture: Judith Dutton

Dafydd Jones rounds off a catch and drive for Barry’s try. Picture: Judith Dutton

“We had a couple of chances later to kick for the posts, but went for the corner,” said Dimond. “If one of those had gone right…” Small margins, but Barry had already shown their strength up front with their try, and understandably ignored the ‘take the points’ encouragement from the sidelines.

Quins regained the lead eight minutes from time, when they finally found an overlap out wide, Matthew Williams scoring in the corner. Barry then applied pressure, but the game ended controversially as they were penalised in the red zone, a tip tackle by the desperate defence having somehow been missed, and relieved Quins quickly kicked the ball dead.

“I just hope the boys can pick themselves up on the positives, and not dwell on what could have been,” said Dimond. “But to be fingernails close to a Principality final. It hurts.”

Carmarthen Quins 14 Barry 10

In the other semi-final, Tondu beat Gorseinon 25-0.