Barry slog through the mud for a vital win

FOR the second week running Barry left it right to the death before clinching a vital victory and four valuable points.

The Bombers completed the double over promotion-chasing Llanishen with the last kick of the game and the clock deep in the red.

Barry, learning the lesson from the previous week, started well, scoring two excellent tries in the first 13 minutes, dominating the opening quarter at the Reservoir Field with the strong wind and driving rain at their backs.

“But then we stuttered a bit after that,” said head coach Mike Morgan. “Llanishen are a very good team, and we left the door open. They came back at us with very good rugby, and you could see why they are second in the league.”

Morgan felt Barry began to rush things after their promising start, errors creeping in, which inevitably handed the ball and advantage to the visitors. Llanishen took a 14-12 lead on the stroke of half-time, when Barry were one down due to a yellow card, and the familiar anxieties surfaced as the elements would be in the visitors’ favour in the second half.

And at times in the second period it needed some excellent defence to keep Llanishen out, Barry conceding only a penalty before a late, lengthy surge of pressure from the Bombers had the Lions defending deep. The scrum, largely dominant throughout, gradually swung the game back in Barry’s favour.

“In patches we stuck to the game plan, which allowed us to stay in the game, and it was enough not to allow Llanishen to score more than the penalty,” said Morgan. “Our defence really held. We stopped the kicking game, kept the ball in hand, went through the phases, and found ourselves in good positions.

“Three well-worked tries, all straight from the training paddock. I think the penny has dropped that if we stick to the game plan we are scoring quality tries and opponents are getting nowhere near us. As a coach that’s what you want to see.”

And as the clock moved six minutes into the red, with Barry camped on the Llanishen line, the message from their coaches on the sidelines was loud and clear – ‘stick to the game plan’ – which got through and certainly paid off.

Alyn Evans, almost predictably, had opened Barry’s account, ending a catch and drive after nine minutes. Four minutes later, a fine handling move saw Lewis Bumford going over, Morgan Prosser converting. Llanishen replied with tries from Elliott Swindlehurst after 26 minutes, and Lewis Marshall after 40, Joshua James converting both.

And when James extended the lead with a penalty after 67 minutes, Barry were left needing a try to level. After a series of scrums on the visitors’ line, with one resulting in a yellow card, but surprisingly no penalty try, quick hands ended with Cam Williams going in under the posts, Prosser again converting.

“A really positive day. We showed tenacity and perseverance. Eight points from the last two games,” said Morgan. “Now we concentrate on next week. Rhydyfelin away. I know they are bottom, but we will need to put everything out there.”

Ken Watkins

Photo by Cam Prosser.

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