BARRY RFC, after producing an impressive all-round display, are off the bottom of the table following this confidence-boosting victory against fellow strugglers Rhiwbina at the Reservoir Field on Saturday.
Winning was vital, as coach Tomos Perry acknowledged after the game: “If we hadn’t got the five points today, and Rhiwbina nothing,” he said, “it would have made our life very hard. It is tight at the bottom.
“This was the best performance I have seen in a very long time,” said Perry. “Everything we told them from the sidelines they did. We spoke about not giving Rhiwbina easy territory, no unnecessary turnovers, no stupid penalties. The defence was brilliant, and I’m happy that the backs backed themselves today.”
The Bombers were dominant in the scrum, penetrative in attack, and resolute in defence when it was needed. A spell in the second half apart, when Rhiwbina came back hard after trailing 21-0 at the interval, Barry were the better side.
Both sides lost a player to a harsh red card, when yellow would probably have been enough, both deemed to have illegally lifted an opponent. Rhiwbina’s Owen Parry departed after 28 minutes, and Barry’s Rhys Powell seven minutes later.
Barry’s first two tries, from Marcus Reid (12 minutes) and Evan Prosser (20), were carbon copies, the dominant scrum providing the platform, quick hands setting up the opening, and the scorers powering through despairing tackles.
Owen Rees converted both before getting on the scoresheet himself, taking advantage of a Rhiwbina error, picking up the loose ball and darting through. He added the extras to give Barry a healthy interval lead.
Rhiwbina hit back through Danny Murphy after 43 minutes, Cameron Pike converting. But Barry restored their lead in the 50th minute, Jake Williams’ kick ahead and chase putting pressure on the visitors’ line, and Alyn Evans driving over for the bonus point try.
Pike scored and converted Rhiwbina’s second try after 57 minutes, but the last word went to Barry in the 78th minute, the scrum providing the platform for the backs to send Jack Davies away to score under the posts, Aled Rees converting.
This victory, the first match in what Perry calls “a triple header”, needs to be a springboard for further success if Barry are to ease their way out of trouble. After five matches the bottom four are adrift, and the Bombers now face consecutive away games against the other two members of that group, Porth Harlequins (2nd November) and Abercwmboi (9th November).
Ken Watkins
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