Barry RFC slipped to a dramatic 22-21 defeat at Abercwmboi in the Admiral League.
Abercwmboi snatched victory with a last-gasp try when the clock was in the red, leaving the Bombers frustrated at what might have been, with just a losing bonus point to show for their battling efforts.
Barry made a flying start, scoring twice in the first five minutes. But the hosts battled back to take control of much of the rest of the game, dominating territory and possession, and forcing Barry to spend long spells defending.
“We could, and should, have been out of sight,” said coach Tomos Perry. “Realistically we defended for 65 minutes and you can’t afford to do that against a Division 1 team."
"For the first few minutes we were brilliant. We stuck to our structure and went two tries up. We should have been able to sustain that. The boys are frustrated by some of the ref’s decisions. But we shouldn’t have been in the situation that made those decisions count.”
Barry took the lead inside two minutes with Jake Williams making the initial break and Alyn Evans pressuring the defence before the ball was played across to the far side for Williams to round it off. Jack Davies converted.
Three minutes later, Barry drove for the line after a penalty lineout. Daf Jones peeled off and fed the supporting Cai Beasley to go over. Davies added the extras to put the Bombers 14-0 up.
But as the hosts rallied, Barry found themselves on the back foot, only occasionally lifting the pressure. Three first half tries by Abercwmboi put them 17-14 ahead at the break, but Jack Davies scored a superb solo try on the hour, breaking away outside before adding the extras to put Barry 21-17 ahead.
Barry had two good try-scoring opportunities in the second half, but with both efforts, the final pass failed to stick.
“Because we defended for so long, once we got the ball we felt we had to do something,” said Perry. “We were forcing it and making little errors, but that was always going to come when you have only ten minutes of the game.”
Barry remain third from bottom in Division One East Central, above Rhiwbina and Porth, who were both beaten on Saturday and with neither team getting a losing bonus point.
The Bombers are four points adrift of Abercwmboi, and face another crucial game at the weekend when Llanharan, seven points ahead, visit the Reservoir Field.
Abercwmboi scorers:
Tries - Owen Jenkins, Curtis Williams, Nick Brennan, Tom Tarr
Conversion – Curtis Jones.
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Elsewhere in the Vale, Penarth edged out Llanharan in an entertaining 43-38 victory at the Athleitc Ground, with Tom Griffiths scoring two of their seven tries.
Six wins from their opening seven games of the season leaves them level on points with unbeaten leaders St Josephs, who play host to the Bears next Saturday.
Cowbridge remain second in Division Two East Central despite a 24-10 defeat at Llantwit Fardre.
In Division Three, Llantwit Major got back to winning ways by beating Llandaff 31-14, while Dinas Powys romped home to a 42-10 win at Cardiff Saracens in Division Four.
Old Penarthians' men went down 39-15 at home to Division Five leaders Pontycymmer, while the Women's Championship clash with Haverfordwest was postponed.
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