Sport – Yellow cards cost Barry RFC as Penarth take charge

Admiral National League Division One East Central - Barry RFC 3 Penarth 45

Glamorgan Star news 09/09/2024

2 minutes read

A SEVEN-TRY victory in the first meeting for six years between these clubs ended with Penarth claiming local bragging rights.

This certainly wasn’t the result many would have expected, but derby matches rarely match expectations. The emotion and intensity of the occasion seemed to have a greater effect on a Barry side fielding several young players, with a large crowd keeping up the volume throughout, the visiting supporters certainly having plenty to cheer about.

Flynn Baker is stopped in his tracks by the Penarth defence. Photo by Judith Dutton — **| Flynn Baker is stopped in his tracks by the Penarth defence.** *Photo: Judith Dutton*

Predictably there were flare-ups, three in the first 10 minutes, the third leaving Barry a man short courtesy of a yellow card. Penarth capitalised with a couple of tries against the 14 men. A second yellow card, later, cost a further two tries.

“We just didn’t get into shape,” said head coach Mike Morgan. “Our focus just wasn’t there, and we were not dialled in from a playing perspective. As a result we made too many mistakes, which gave Penarth momentum and allowed them opportunities.

“I think with a lot of it out there, we beat ourselves. That’s what stings, players coming off the field knowing they could have, should have done much better. We didn’t do what we are supposed to do, and that’s a tough one to take.”

Owen Rees gave Barry a second-minute lead, but any hopes that this would prove a springboard for a perfect opening day for the hosts were soon dashed.

Three tries saw Penarth 21-3 ahead at the interval, with Barry getting increasingly frustrated as decisions went against them. Four more tries followed in the second half, the second awarded after Penarth appeared to knock on in the build-up.

Barry kept battling, largely in vain, Flynn Baker producing a brilliant try-saving tackle in the 73^rd minute, but by then the game had long gone.

Morgan felt this was a hard lesson for Barry’s young players. “What we have learned today is that you have to play with two things, high emotion because it’s sport, but at that higher emotive state you have to keep your concentration. We didn’t.”

Penarth scorers: tries – Rhys Benson (10 minutes), Spencer Robinson (23), Josh Hurley (40), Luc Kearn-Rorms (43), Miles Jones (55, 60), George Roberts (76); conv – Ben Jones 5.