Barry RFC's head coach criticised the referee following their 35-7 defeat at Llanharan on the opening day of the Admiral League.
The Bombers endured a disappointing and frustrating start to the Division One East Central season, but this was far from the one-sided match that the scoreline suggested.
All five of Llanharan’s tries resulted directly from infringements by the home side which were not spotted by the referee.
A knock on, crossing, the ball taken back into the 22 and the resulting clearance kick finding touch with the move not being called back, off feet, scrum infringements - the list of missed offences at the Dairy Field on Saturday was almost endless, even more so in the second half.
One Llanharan offence that was spotted, but inadequately punished with a yellow card, was feet in the ruck, normally red card territory. And, inevitably, frustrations - already evident - saw tempers fraying.
While the WRU’s policy of encouraging young referees is to be applauded, there is also a duty of care. The WRU has to seriously consider whether putting a teenage referee in charge of a Division One match is good for the game or, most importantly, helpful to the official’s development.
Barry, with several players injured or unavailable, fielded something of a makeshift squad. But in the first half that made little difference.
The scrum was solid, the Bombers were generally dominant in the rucks and mauls, kicking from hand was pinning the Dairymen back, but they ended the half with just the one try, largely as a result of poor lineout decisions in the home 22.
Cam Williams got the touchdown after Barry switched the ball across the field, and away from a fight, Owen Rees adding the extras, in the 29th minute, to give the Bombers a well-deserved 7-0 lead at half time.
Head coach Mike Morgan is normally reluctant to criticise officials, but not on Saturday: "I’m not saying we were faultless, but this level we expect a referee to pick up on things and not just let them happen. I was very disappointed in the second half performance by the referee."
“At half-time the assessor told both head coaches the players had to find discipline, but that has to be managed,” he said. “If something like a stamp happens, players will defend their team-mates.”
Despite Barry being “extremely down on numbers”, Morgan was generally pleased with a very positive first half performance.
"At half-time 7-0 to us was probably a fair reflection. Unfortunately, when we put ourselves in positions where we could have scored we messed up the lineout. In crucial areas, we made the wrong call, and it cost us."
The scoreline, he added, “looks like a hammering, but it wasn’t. What we had in the second half were some very frustrated players. I told the boys after the game they didn’t deserve that. It was more than a little unfair.”
Llanharan scorers:
Tries - Lewis Cogbill (47'), Scott Jones (60'), Jack Dauncey (65'), Ajay Lewis (74'), Jack Brooks (80')
Conversions – Scott Jones 5
The Reservoir Field may stage three games next Saturday, with the firsts hosting Penarth in the league and the youth squad home to Beddau. The club is also hoping to field a home fixture for its second/development team.
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