Barry, giving several under-16s players game time as part of their transition to Youth rugby, endured a frustrating afternoon in a match littered with penalties, which saw their unbeaten run in 2026 brought to an end.
Barry kicked off down the slope and tried to assert their dominance from the start but struggled to get into a groove following frequent whistle blowing, which continued throughout the game, with repeated scrums and re-sets.
This was frustrating the spectators, coaches and players alike, and this frustration resulted in numerous penalties against Barry, almost every time they seemed to be getting up a head of steam.
The highlight of the half was a well-taken try from stand in captain Isaac Thomas, following a pick up from powerful no 8 Riley Hawkins at the back of a scrum, converted by under-16s no 10 Marley Paines-Lang.
Barry appeared to have grabbed a second try just before half-time, with hooker Jensen Wilding peeling away from a lineout maul a few metres out and crashing over, only for it to be ruled out for being held up when the ball appeared to be on the ground. A decision which added to Barry’s frustration.
With the wind at their backs and slope in their favour Llandaff took the game to Barry in the second half and were rewarded with a close-range pick and go converted try of their own.
The stop-start pattern continued, and after being penalised again Barry found themselves camped on their line. Following several advantages Llandaff squeezed over in the corner.
The coaches, frustrated after a game that never really got going, sympathised with the players on multiple decisions that went against them.
“However we were quick to highlight the areas that need improvement and in our control, particularly finding energy when the game is so stop-start and sticking to structure when the game is tight and scrappy,” said head coach Peter O’Sullivan. “A frustrating afternoon, but we have a chance to put it right at Beddau on Saturday.”
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