Barry Youth hit nine tries in National Plate victory

Barry’s nine-try blitz, six in the second half, blew Newport HSOB away in horrendous conditions at the Reservoir Field on Saturday as the Bombers took their unbeaten league form into the Plate competition.

They opted to play up the slope and into the torrential wind and rain in the first half, looking to use the elements to their advantage in the second half, a decision that paid off in style.

Newport HSOB started well and, following a penalty, kicked to the corner to set up camp near the Barry line. A few phases later they were in for the opening unconverted score. Barry were under pressure on their line during the opening minutes line, but repelled phase after phase in a well organised and committed defensive effort.

Barry worked their way up the pitch and were rewarded with a well-constructed try, centre Dom Dukes rounding off a fine team score, converted by scrum half Cam Hughes to put Barry 7-5 ahead after 15 minutes.

Barry, growing in confidence, added two more scores, hooker Jensen Wilding breaking off the back of a rolling maul and romping in from 20 metres before centre George Strong finished in the corner, rounding off another impressive team score, Hughes converting one to take the score to 19-5. Newport had the last word with a converted score, leaving Barry a well-earned 19-12 ahead at the interval.

The second half was much more one-way traffic with Barry playing the conditions well, pinning Newport in their own 22 with a strong kicking game and making the most of their territorial domination to post 42 unanswered points.

There were further scores from Strong and Dukes, as well as two for outside half Marley Paines-Lang and one each for Hughes and replacement prop Ryan Seldon, with Hughes converting all six in a near faultless display of goal kicking.

Head coach Peter O’Sullivan said: “Really impressed with the commitment in the opening exchanges and then the game management once we got ourselves in front.”

Forwards coach James Hadfield said: “Best we’ve played this season, growing in confidence game on game and pleased to take our league form into the national cup competition. We’re looking forward to a week off and then we’ll attack the Cardiff Cup, starting with Mountain Ash at home on November 7.”