Barry go into the new rugby season firmly focused on regaining their place in the top division

Barry go into the new rugby season firmly focused on regaining their place in the top division, after relegation to League Division 2 East Central last season.

While relegation eventually did not come as a complete shock, there is a determination among the squad to prove that the bitter disappointment was, in the words of head coach Mike Morgan, “a one-off, an anomaly”.

The Bombers, with no game time under their belts following a summer of heatwaves and rock-hard grounds, host Cardiff Quins in Admiral National League Division 2 East Central at the Reservoir Field on Saturday (2.30pm), aiming to start the campaign with a victory.

“The focus is very much on getting back up there,” said Morgan. “The other nine teams in the league will also be going out to win and gain promotion, so we are not kidding ourselves it will be easy.

“The players are confident, happy. We are in as good a place as we can be, considering last season. The response has been inspirational. Players do like to play at a high level. Relegation has motivated and inspired us, as players and coaches.

“We have to take the lessons from last season, and we’ve just got to get a few things right. It was on us. We have to accept responsibility, go back to the drawing board and make sure we don’t make those same mistakes this season. We have to score more tries. It’s a high-pressure environment.”

Obviously the lack of pre-season matches and consequent game time hasn’t helped Barry’s preparation, with full contact in training being ruled out until this month as the Reservoir Field pitch was baked hard.

Pre-season training has frequently seen more than 30 players attending, numbers which could prove a selection headache. But, with the club running a second team, and possibly a Vets team, there will be more opportunities for essential game time, something sadly lacking last season.

“There is competition for places. No-one’s place is nailed on. You’ve got to train hard, play hard,” said Morgan. “I always tell the players to give themselves the best chance they have to turn up, give 110 per cent, especially now we’ve got a big squad. And we have such a young squad now. But if you are good enough you are old enough.”