Barry RFC fall short despite fightback
SPORT | Rugby
Admiral National League. Division One East Central:
Barry RFC 27 Rhiwbina 36
Barry RFC ended this match in a positive mood despite their spirited second half fightback falling just short.
Conceding tries at crucial times, plus the occasional lack of discipline, proved their undoing, but head coach Liam Scott had no complaints about the effort his makeshift side put in.
“It was very physical, got tasty at times, and I don’t think any of them shied away from it. But we allowed them territory and possession time and time again. The damage was done in the first half,” said Scott.
In this fifth straight league defeat, Barry made what has become an all too familiar start, conceding a try inside two minutes. Further tries at vital times by Rhiwbina, in the last minute of the half and again two minutes after the break, left the Bombers trailing by 20 points.
Chris Williams opened the scoring for Rhiwbina before Barry had settled. Elliot Jones, who had scythed too easily through the home defence, converted. Einan Scott replied with a penalty after seven minutes before the visitors hit back with two tries in three minutes.
Seb Ripley ended a move which appeared to include a knock-on, and with Barry understandably feeling hard done by, Williams took advantage to score his second try as Rhiwbina kept the pressure on, Jones converting for 19-3 lead after just 20 minutes.
Barry responded with some pressure of their own, Tom Perry going over in the 23rd minute and Scott converting. They closed the gap still further in the 26th minute with another penalty from Scott.
But critically, Rhiwbina struck again in the last minute of the half, a catch and drive seeing Jamie DeAbreu score the bonus point try, Jones converting.
Jones got Rhiwbina’s fifth try, which he converted, two minutes after the interval, and then landed a penalty after 50 minutes for a 36-13 lead.
Barry’s fightback saw them control much of the remainder of the second half. Alyn Evans scored tries in the 52nd and 80th minutes, Scott converting both, but determined defence, and the occasional penalty, eased the pressure.
Barry visit unbeaten Mountain Ash, who have won all their six league matches so far, in a rearranged fixture on Saturday.
- The match doubled as a Mallett Cup quarter-final tie. Rhiwbina now face Dinas Powys in the last four.
Ken Watkins
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