BARRY YOUTH overcame a slow start and shrugged off the challenge of uncontested scrums after the interval, battling back from 25-8 down to record their fourth victory, a late winning try strengthening their grip on top spot in the division.
Beddau went ahead with an early penalty, but Marley Paines-Lang levelled the scores after good work by Barry’s dominant pack. Under-16s outside half Paines-Lang was on kicking duty with Barry’s frontline kickers Tom Provis, back on the bench after six weeks out with a broken hand, and Cam Hughes selected for Gloucester under-18s at Northampton.
Beddau went ahead with another penalty, and a pick and drive try to lead 11-3. Riley Hawkins crossed the line for Barry just before the interval, but the effort was ruled out with the ball ruled held up.
Beddau’s lack of replacement props meant Barry were unable to use their strong scrum platform in the second half, but they struck the first blow. A well-worked backs move saw Isaac Thomas stretch the home defence before delivering an inside ball to Rhys Behrens.
Beddau hit back with two tries to lead 25-8 with 15 minutes left, but Barry refused to lie down, Provis diving onto a grubber kick from Paines-Lang, who converted the try to close the gap to 25-15 as Barry’s greater fitness began to tell.
Following an illegal tackle on Morgan Beasley, the resulting penalty, and several phases of patient handling, saw Barry stretch the Beddau defence before putting George Strong over unopposed, Paines-Lang nailing a difficult conversion to close the gap to three points.
Beddau’s discipline was now letting them down as they tired and, following a high tackle, they were reduced to 14 players for the closing minutes. Then came the crucial score. Barry captain and man-of-the-match Behrens nailed a back of the lineout throw to replacement flanker Max O’Sullivan at the top of his jump.
Quick ball allowed Beasley to hit Paines-Lang in the centre of the pitch and he ghosted between the Beddau 10 and 12 for the winning score.
With two minutes left, Barry were under the cosh, but solid defence turned the ball over and a few controlled phases later they were able to kick the ball out for the win.
Barry coaches Peter O’Sullivan, James Hadfield and Rhodri Thomas were united in their message that the team “got out of jail”, as another slow start and poor early discipline almost proved costly.
“Credit to the players for not giving up and scoring some high quality late tries,” said head coach O’Sullivan. “The next step for this team is to start strong and maintain the standards we saw in the last 15 minutes for the full 70.”
Photo by Judith Dutton.
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