Aggrieved Barry RFC say teenage referees should be protected

A DISAPPOINTING and frustrating opening day game for Barry, but this was far from the one-sided match the scoreline suggests.

All five of Llanharan’s second half tries resulted directly from infringements by the home side which were not spotted by the referee.

The Barry camp spotted a knock on, crossing, the ball taken back into the 22 and the resulting clearance kick finding touch with the move not being called back, off feet, scrum infringements – the list of missed offences at the Dairy Field on Saturday was almost endless, more so in the second half.

One Llanharan offence that was spotted, but inadequately punished with a yellow card, was feet in the ruck, normally red card territory. And, inevitably, frustrations, already evident, saw tempers fraying.

While the WRU’s policy of encouraging young referees is to be applauded, there is also a duty of care. The WRU has to seriously consider whether putting a teenage referee in charge of a Division One match is good for the game or, most importantly, helpful to the official’s development.

Barry, with several players injured or unavailable, fielded something of a makeshift. But in the first half that made little difference.

The scrum was solid, the Bombers were generally dominant in the rucks and mauls, kicking from hand was pinning the Dairymen back, but they ended the half with just the one try, largely as a result of poor lineout decisions in the home 22.

Cam Williams got the touchdown after Barry switched the ball across the field, and away from a fight, Owen Rees adding the extras, in the 29th minute, to give the Bombers a well-deserved 7-0 interval lead.

Head coach Mike Morgan is normally reluctant to criticise officials, but not on Saturday. “I’m not saying we were faultless, but this level we expect a referee to pick up on things and not just let them happen. I was very disappointed in the second half performance by the referee.

“At half-time, the assessor told both head coaches the players had to find discipline, but that has to be managed,” he said. “If something like a stamp happens, players will defend their team-mates.”

The scoreline, he said, “looks like a hammering, but it wasn’t. What we had in the second half were some very frustrated players. I told the boys after the game they didn’t deserve that. It was more than a little unfair.”

Llanharan: tries – Lewis Cogbill (47), Scott Jones (60), Jack Dauncey (65), Ajay Lewis (74), Jack Brooks (80); conv – Scott Jones 5.

*The Reservoir Field may stage three games on Saturday, with the Firsts hosting Penarth in the league, and the Youth home to Beddau. The club is also hoping to field a Second/Development team home fixture.

Ken Watkins

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