“We will go there with loads of fire, loads of positivity.” That’s the message from Barry RFC Youth head coach John Dimond as he prepares his team for their most important match of the season on Saturday (1st March) when the Bombers take on Haverfordwest in the semi-final of the WRU Youth Plate at Trimsaran.
“It’s the one game you want to win more than anything, because winning means you are in the final. You have a window of just two years in Youth rugby, and special moments in that time will stay with you for the rest of your life.”
At the beginning of the season, Dimond and his fellow coaches decided to target the national knockout competition. Over the previous two seasons, and during the current season, Barry have done well in regional leagues and cups, losing just seven matches in the more than 50 they have played, but narrowly missed out on national competition success.
Two years ago they were controversially beaten by Carmarthen Quins in the semi-final of the WRU Youth Cup, and for Dimond, in his final season as Youth head coach at the club, success in the Plate would be the perfect sign off.
Haverfordwest have dominated their regional league competition. “If you are not in the same region, you don’t really know the strength of their rugby,” he said. “They are an unknown quantity. But they are obviously a decent side, and we will not be taking them lightly. We will give it everything we’ve got.”
Barry, the only team in the last four from east Wales, have played all three previous Plate matches away, beating Whiteheads 25-3, Beddau 20-13, and then Cowbridge 22-17 in the last eight. “The springboard for us was the game at Beddau. Our boys showed the maximum amount of character. They know how to dig in.”
Haverfordwest beat Taibach 52-10 at home, won 52-5 at Wrexham, and drew 15-15 at Trebanos, going through as the away team. The other semi-final is between Gorseinon and Crymych.
“All the boxes have been ticked,” said Dimond, who has a full squad to select from. “All the hard work these boys have put in over the last two years, I hope they can, for themselves, finish off their youth rugby in style. We won’t fall short for want of trying.”
Ken Watkins
Photo by Judith Dutton.
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