Barry resumed their Admiral League campaign with a 44-34 defeat at Rhydyfelin in Division One East Central.
Barry, despite having to play the entire match with 14 men, produced a performance to be proud of against a side eying a top three finish with quality scores earning them a well-deserved try bonus point.
Injuries and unavailability meant a lack of front row specialists and passive scrums from the start. Rhydyfelin scored out wide in the second minute, raising fears of a difficult and possibly demoralising day for the Bombers.
“At this level the one thing you have to do is never give up,” said head coach Mike Morgan.
“You keep fighting, that’s what we did, and the game finishes 44-34 playing with 14 men. We were missing a lot of key players today, so we had to make adjustments. But nobody worried, nobody panicked, and we adjusted as a team.”
Rhydyfelin clinched a try bonus point midway through the first half with Barry’s only response coming from a Jack Davies penalty in the 15th minute.
But the turnround soon started with the Bombers scoring twice in five minutes - the first came from a penalty try in the 30th minute after Alyn Evans and Aled Rees threatened the home line following a neat free kick move.
Five minutes later, Flynn Baker who - together with Victor Corrihons - had a magnificent game as Rhydyfelin inevitably tested both by kicking at every opportunity, scored an interception try. Davies converted to close the gap to three points.
A converted try on the stroke of half-time gave Rhydyfelin a ten-point interval lead, and a disputed try in the first minute of the second half after a foot in touch hadn’t been spotted saw the hosts go 17 points clear.
But Barry’s heads didn’t drop and they responded with exciting quality rugby as the teams traded blows.
Davies scored a superb solo try after 44 minutes, before Baker got his second in the 68th minute when Barry were down to 13 men after Corrihons had made the initial burst. Davies added the extras and Aled Rees rounded things off in the corner as the clock ran down.
“We had a squad of players today who I asked to show courage,” said Morgan. “I want to see it out there, and they did. We saw today some exciting rugby."
"There’s disappointment at losing today, and the fans may be disappointed by another loss, but they cannot be disappointed at the commitment shown by the players.”
Rhydyfelin scorers:
Tries – Luke Riley (2'), Ben Fudge (19', 40'), Gavin Close (22', 27'), Lewis Jones (41'), Garyn Lucas (57'), Garreg Downs (79')
Conversions – Bailey Roberts 2.
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Elsewhere in the Vale, Penarth's Division One match at Abercwmboi was postponed, allowing title rivals St Joseph's to take advantage with a 54-19 victory over relegated Porth Harlequins.
Penarth drop to third in the table with three games of the season to go - and just four points separating them from the league leaders.
In Division Two, Cowbridge remain on track for promotion after a 26-21 win at home to Taffs Well which keeps them second in the table, just four points off leaders Caerphilly.
Llantwit Major moved back up to fourth in Division Three with a 50-10 victory over relegation candidates Treharris, while Division Four leaders Dinas Powys beat Pontyclun 28-14 in their final home game of the season.
And Old Penarthians finished their Division Five campaign with a 34-17 win at Hirwaun, who were relegated after losing all fourteen of their league games this season.
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