Barry RFC host the first of three pre-season matches when Llanishen visit the Reservoir Field on Saturday, 6th August (2.30pm) as the build-up to the new National League Division 1 East Central season continues.
The Bombers have had just over a month of pre-season training, with good attendances at all sessions, and full contact introduced only last week. “Overall, it’s shaping up very nicely,” said head coach Liam Scott.
The build-up continues with a visit to Pencoed (2 West Central) on 13th August, and a final home match against Hendy (1 West) on 20th August. The league season starts with a local derby at Dinas Powys on 3rd September.
Saturday’s game, said Scott: “is chance for us to put what we have been practising into real-life games. We want to get our game plan into place by the third game.”
He will field a mixed side against Llanishen (2 East Central), and again at Pencoed. Against Hendy he expects the line-up to be closer to that which will start at Dinas Powys two weeks later.
With the rejigged Division One Cup, which sees Barry visit Monmouth (1 East) on 17th September, the players face nine games on the trot – six of them league – at the start of the new season, before getting one weekend off after their third Group D cup match at home to Rhydyfelin (1 East Central) on 29th October.
Barry’s other Group D game is at home, against Newbridge (1 East) on 15th October. Group winners qualify for the knock-out stages.
“Different from last year,” said Scott, “when we went weeks without a game. Chunks of regular rugby keep the boys together. But it’s going to be tough, going from playing a handful of games last season to a minimum of 25 to 27 games.”
- In the Cardiff South Group A Regional Youth Cup, Barry visit Penarth on 3rd September, are home to Dinas Powys on 10th September, and home to Old Penarthians on 24th September.
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