Two wins from their two build-up games - and encouraging news about injured players- have given Barry a boost prior to the new Admiral League season.
Aled Rees (hamstring) and Rhys Powell (knee) were both injured in the first pre-season match against Canton earlier this month, and initial fears were that both would be ruled out for a large part of the season.
Rees suffered a partial tear to his hamstring and, if recovery goes well, could be back in action some time in November. Meanwhile, Powell has resumed light training – touch and pass – and may well be back earlier than Rees.
On Saturday, Barry beat Nantyffyllon 5-0 in a game played in heavy rain at the Reservoir Field, with Bombers head coach Mike Morgan ringing the changes, some positional, from a fortnight earlier.
Dan Hobson, suffering from a sore neck, was rested while Owen Rees, normally playing at 10, moved to nine to replace his injured brother.
The game against Division 1 West Central opposition was won in the last minute with former fouth player Louie Norman scoring his first try for the senior side.
“It was not a day for running rugby,” said head coach Mike Morgan, who was generally pleased with the performance.
“The ball was so greasy. We were getting into good areas, and you have to work to get into those areas. We looked like we would score on a number of occasions, but the slippery ball meant errors.”
The pack performed well, with Tyler O’Connor playing at loose head, and then switching to hooker. “These are games you can experiment a little bit,” said Morgan. “Tyler gives us another front rower in a strong pack. We were solid in the set piece, and produced some lovely driving mauls.”
The conditions meant both back lines struggled to play running rugby. “The players did not get frustrated, and produced a good kicking performance. And our defence was rock solid. Our overall performance has given us confidence that we have a really good squad with competition for places.”
Barry open their Division One East Central campaign away at Llanharan next Saturday - last season's fixture ended in a narrow defeat with a late penalty denying Barry a losing bonus point.
Morgan is aware that it will be a tough game at the Dairy Field with the hosts having recruited strongly over the summer. But the head coach feels his squad is stronger and more experienced than last season.
Tom Evers, briefly with Barry last season, is now free to play after registration issues were resolved and Brennan Logan is back from university.
The testing start to the new season continues on September 13th when Penarth visit the Reservoir Field in a derby fixture switched from later in the month.
Barry's second and youth teams will also be at home that day, before Abercynon, who narrowly missed out on promotion last season, visit Barry on September 20th.
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