A second half fightback saw Barry clinch a 38-25 win over Llanishen in their penultimate Admiral League game of the season.
This really was a game of two halves. The Bombers shrugged off a poor first half display - with their more determined approach after the interval turning the game round and leaving Llanishen well beaten.
Barry failed to take advantage of the strong wind in the first half and conceded four tries, largely due to some poor tackling, with only a desperately needed try late in the half keeping them within touching distance.
Llanishen secured a try bonus point in the first half hour and, with the wind at their backs, they probably expected to build on that after the interval. Instead, Barry came out positively, dominating possession and territory, while restricting the visitors to a single penalty.
“I don’t think they created much in the first half,” said coach Tom Perry, “but we were falling off tackles, which made it really easy for them. So I said to the boys at half-time that we had to shore up our defence, tackle round their legs, and it will be a completely different game.”
Jack Davies landed three penalties for Barry in the first half (7', 20', 27'), but Llanishen replied with their four tries before Will Humphries rounded off a good passing move in the 36th minute to keep Barry in a game which had appeared to be running away from them.
But after the interval, the Bombers took control, defending strongly when they had to and rarely allowing Llanishen to threaten, with Taylor O’Connor’s 43rd minute try after a spell of pressure starting the powerful fightback.
More pressure in the 58th minute saw Josh Edwards make the break before sending Aled Rees over, with Jack Davies adding the conversion to put Barry ahead. Llanharan’s solitary penalty reply was swiftly followed by a 65th minute try as Alyn Evans drove over for the bonus point.
Another lengthy spell in the visitors’ red zone paid off in the 72nd minute - Dan Davies snaffled Barry’s fifth try with Jack Davies converting.
“It’s good to have a good win, which gives a boost to the boys. Because we were safe we’ve treated it a bit more like pre-season, nothing to win, nothing to lose,” said Perry.
“We’ve tried a few different things. That second half showed their hard work is paying off. This was a massive win, but very deserved to be fair.”
Barry end their Division One East Central season on Saturday when leaders St Joseph’s are the visitors to the Reservoir Field.
Llanishen scorers
Tries – Lloyd Iwans (10 minutes), Jack Donald (13'), Lewis Marshall (22'), Iwan Green (30')
Conversions – Donald (13'); penalty – Donald (60')
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Elsewhere in the Vale, Llantwit Major were beaten 50-29 at Canton in their last away game in Division Three.
Major drop to fifth in the table with just one home game to go - against Tonyrefail on April 26th.
Division Four leaders Dinas Powys round off their season with two away games in the space of four days - at Tylorstown on Wednesday night (7.30pm ko) and at Brackla next Saturday.
But Dinas will need to wait on the outcome of Ferndale's four remaning games if they're to clinch the title and back-to-back promotions.
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Bombers defeated in Plate warm-up
Bombers well beaten by St Joseph's
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