Bombers dashed at the death

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Monday, 3 February 2025 10:52

By Ken Watkins

Battling defence. Barry battle hard to keep Abercwmboi out. Pics: Judith Dutton

Barry saw their three-game winning run in the Admiral League come to an end after a narrow 34-31 defeat to Abercwmboi.

A late, late penalty, with the clock five minutes into the red, dashed the Bombers' hopes of a deserved draw in a fiercely contested match with Abercwmboi snatching victory at the death - just as they had when the teams met earlier in the season.

The scores were level when the clock went into the red, but a lack of discipline in the closing minutes proved to be Barry’s undoing.

After taking the lead for the first time in the match after 75 minutes, they were reduced to 14 men and the initiative swung to the visitors.

With the score at 31-26, Barry needed to keeping possession and runthe clock down. Instead, as coach Marc Devine said afterwards, it was a case of “misplaced passes and a poor throw in” and Abercwmboi took advantage.

The visitors levelled the scores with a last-minute try, and with the conversion from out wide off target, a draw looked on until that late penalty pinched victory for the visitors.

Penalties certainly proved costly with Barry conceding more than their visitors, although the reasons were not always clearly indicated.

The Bombers scored five tries to Abercwmboi’s four, but Aaron Bolitho’s four penalties proved the crucial difference.

“We threw it away, didn’t we,” said Devine. “Everything we spoke about before the game – play the phases, stick to the game plan, don’t let it go to your heads – but after our fifth try we needed to settle, keep possession.”

That final try, a tap and go eventually finished off by Alyn Evans, he felt showed signs of Barry’s growing maturity as they “just went through the phases”.

The defeat, according to Devine, was “disappointing, but the positive is that it’s a young side, and they will learn from this. These are the type of games that, a year down the line, when we are at the same place, in January up in Abercynon or wherever, are the ones we are going to win.”

Victor Corrihons scored tries in the 25th and last minute of the first half - the first came after pressure following a catch and drive and the second was set up by Jake Williams, with Corrihons finishing with a strong swerving run. Jack Davies converted the latter, and the 33rd minute try from Dafydd Jones, set up by a catch and drive.

Evan Prosser got the bonus point try in the 62nd minute, finishing off a breakaway after Abercwmboi lost possession deep in Barry’s 22, with Davies converting to close the deficit to 22-24.

Abercwmboi scorers:
Tries – Aled Morgan (16;), Owen Jenkins (21, 41, 79)
Conversion – Aaron Bolitho 1 (21'); penalties – Bolitho 4 (30', 50', 55', 80')

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Elsewhere in Division One East Central, Penarth crashed to their heaviest league defeat of the season, going down 51-13 at Rhyfydelin.

The Bears' remain top of the table - but title rivals St Joseph's cut the gap to just one point after beating Abercynon 32-20.

Penarth play their final home game of the season on February 15th - in what could be a potential title decider against St Joseph's at the Athletic Ground.

Cowbridge slipped to third in Division Two after a 20-17 defeat at home to Llantwit Fardre. Just one point seperates them from St Alban's in the table - with the top two teams eligible for promotion at the end of the season.

Llantwit Major returned to winning ways in Division Three with a 21-12 victory at Llandaff, while Dinas Powys remain on course for back-to-back league titles after a 66-0 whitewash over Cardiff Saracens to stay top of Division Four.

And in the WRU Women's Championship, Old Penarthians scraped past Gwernyfed with a 41-40 win, which lifts them to third in the table.