Bro Radio

Listen
Now Playing Cian Ducrot - Can't Even Hate You On Air: Weekday Mornings with Fiona
More from Bro Radio

Bombers on a barren run

Monday, 30 September 2024 13:53

By Ken Watkins

Jack Long scores Barry’s try on the stroke of half-time. Pic: Judith Dutton

Barry RFC slipped to their third straight defeat of the Admiral League season with a 34-10 loss at home to Rhydyfelin.

Slow starts prove costly, and conceding early tries in both the first and second half of Saturday’s game at the Reservoir Field didn't help the Bombers.

Rhydyfelin opened the scoring in the second minute, and added to their 17-10 interval lead with two tries in the first seven minutes of the second half, which left the Bombers 19 points adrift and the game effectively over.

“The first ten minutes we didn’t switch on,” said coach Tomos Perry. “But then the boys started playing. The same in the second half. The lapse of concentration gave Rhydyfelin the advantage, and it proved that step too far for us.”

Barry, in the first half, played into the visitors’ hands. Downhill with the wind, they tended to try to play the ball out from defence when kicking for the corners might have produced better results. Rhydyfelin kicked for distance in the second half and it paid off.

“With a bit more game management we could have done a bit better,” said Perry. “But it’s always fine margins, and it was more that our errors let them in. And as soon as teams like that get a foothold, and get in front, it’s hard to come back.”

But Perry was encouraged by Barry’s attitude in defence, and their ball carrying. “We knew what Rhydyfelin would bring. They’re a very physical side, run hard, run straight. I thought the boys fronted up well.”

A very physical game proved costly for Barry in more than just the scoreline. Sion Kinson came off with a concussion, and Dave Evans suffered a knee injury.

Evans had gone on, shortly before the interval, to replace hooker Dafydd Jones, sidelined by a yellow card. But Barry’s 14 men quickly became 13 when Evans was hurt less than two minutes later, and Barry briefly had to switch to uncontested scrums.

Ironically, that was when Barry scored their only try on the stroke of half-time with Jack Long making the most of a quick tap penalty. Owen Rees converted to add to his eighth-minute penalty.

Perry saw that as a real positive which, unfortunately, Barry failed to capitalise on. “If we had managed the game a bit better at the start of the second half, it might have been very different,” he said.

Rhydyfelin scorers:
Tries – Luke Riley 2 (43', 60'), Garyn Lucas (2'), Louie Owen (29'), Lewis Jones (47')
Conversions – Liam Williams 2, Bailey Roberts; penalty – Liam Williams.

Barry have a break from league action when they host Abergavenny in the Division 1 Cup on Saturday.

---

Elsewhere in the Vale, there was a first defeat for Penarth since winning promotion to Division One East Central.

The Bears, who went down 20-17 at Llanharan, face the same opposition again - this time at the Athletic Ground - in the Division One Cup on Saturday.

Cowbridge came away from Taffs Well with a 41-10 victory to continue their 100% start in Division Two, which leaves them just a point behind early leaders Caerphilly.

In Division Three, Llantwit Major got back to winning ways after beating 44-28, while Dinas Powys cruised to a comfortable 57-12 victory over Brackla in Division Four and Old Penarthians beat Tref y Clawdd 33-20 in Division Five.

Next weekend's league cup action sees Cowbridge travel to Blaina in the Division 2 Cup, while Llantwit Major entertain Treharris in the Division Three Cup.

Sully Sports return to action with a first round game at Girling in the Division 5 Cup, which also sees Old Penarthians on the road at Cefn Coed.

Share

Do you have a local news story? Email news@broradio.fm

 

 

More from Bro Radio Sport

Follow Us On Socials

Vale Weather

  • Fri

    12°C

  • Sat

    13°C

  • Sun

    13°C

  • Mon

    17°C

Local events

More from Bro Radio

Radio
Online
App
Smart Speaker