Barry Sport
Barry RFC 2nds return to league action with a win
8:20am Thursday 2nd February 2012
TAFFS WELL 2ND XV 17 BARRY 2ND XV 27
BARRY RFC Seconds returned to league action on a bitterly cold Wednesday night in rain-swept Taffs Well.
With a number of late withdrawals, veteran Andy Moffat was retained in the second row, joining last minute addition Darren Deguara. Joe Gallivan started at scrum-half whilst Alyn Evans moved from centre to hooker.
Barry were the first team to get to grips with the tricky conditions, as Adam Lee’s boot sent them deep into the opposition 22.
Their enterprise was rewarded when Lee earned 3 points after converting a penalty opportunity as the home side infringed in the contact area. That was not the last time the referee’s whistle was heard.
With the elements slightly in the away side’s favour, the green-and-whites continued to push. After some strong ball-carrying from the forwards, most notably from Alyn Evans, Thomas and Deguara, scrum-half Gallivan utilised his back-line to find Luke Bounds at the end of a flowing move, via the hands of David Williams and Provis, to ground in the corner. Lee was unable to add the extras.
Taffs Well were getting no change from a resolute Barry defence, with Lee Jones, Deguara and Poole particularly outstanding with their tackle counts.
Instead the away side piled forward again, and it was the hooker Evans’ turn to score near the posts. Lee made no mistake with his boot this time.
The new-found centre partnership of Provis and Williams were proving too hot to handle for the home side, and when their forward momentum was taken on by Owain Poole for an unconverted score, the game seemed to be all but over.
Taffs Well, however, did rally late into the first half, and they took full advantage of Jones’ sin-binning to reduce the deficit by a converted try. Barry attempted to reverse the momentum by bringing on Bowditch, Hewitson and Hollister, but their attempts were hampered by yet another yellow card, this time to the captain Rolfe. Once again the home side took advantage, this time with an unconverted score.
The hosts now had the wind in their sails and were sensing an unlikely comeback, as their fly-half utilised the elements and the high ball, both of which Barry struggled to contain.
With that in mind, the away side kept the ball with their powerful forwards, with Evans and Hollister almost setting up Provis for a superb try.
After Luke Booker had been brought on for his debut, Alyn Evans had the chance to increase his side's lead with a penalty opportunity, but his kick was botched.
Moments later, however, Barry did increase their lead and in doing so earned a bonus point, as David Williams pounced on a home handling error to score his third try of the season. Booker bisected the posts with his conversion.
Taffs Well did have the last say when they scored in the corner with the last play of the game, but the night belonged to the away side who battled well all evening against the elements.
Team: Alex Evans; Richie Williams, Dave Provis, Dave Williams, Luke Bounds; Joe Gallivan, Adam Lee; Andy Houldey, Alyn Evans, Jason Thomas; Andy Moffat, Darren Deguara; Lee Jones, Owain Poole, Nick Rolfe (C).
Subs used: Luke Hewitson, Luke Booker, Sam Bowditch, James Hollister.
Man-of-the-match: Deguara.