After a six year gap, local rivalry will be renewed on Saturday when Barry host Penarth in the opening Admiral League fixture of the 2024-25 season.
The teams last met in season 2017-18 in Division 2 East Central, when Penarth finished bottom of the table.
But the Athletic Field club have fought their way back up, culminating in promotion to Division 1 as runners-up to Division 2 champions Llanharan last season.
The Vale derby at the Reservoir Field (2.30pm ko) will be the first of 18 games in a division which has been reduced to ten teams following the relegation of Ynysybwl at the end of last season.
Local bragging rights will obviously be at stake and the Penarth coaching team took the opportunity to watch a mix-and-match Barry line-up in the first of the Bombers’ pre-season games against Pill Harriers.
Barry’s squad then was hit by holidays and injuries, and again the following week against Newport HSOB - and the situation will be the same for the derby, with head coach Mike Morgan knowing that absences will dictate who makes the matchday squad.
Morgan is well aware of the significance of this opening match of the season. “Everybody will put a lot on this game,” he said, “but for us it has to be one game of 18. We will go into every game with the same level of determination and grit. Physically prepped, mentally prepped, rugby prepped.”
He decided against having a third pre-season fixture last Saturday. “We didn’t want to risk any injuries before the opener.” So training sessions for the two weeks between Newport HSOB and Penarth have been “a reflective period, a fitness period, and making sure the boys are happy.”
There is one change in Barry's coaching line-up from last season. Mike Prosser has stepped aside following his election as club chairman, while former player Marc Devine joins the team and will be focusing on defence and the contact area.
Llanishen, promoted along with Penarth and Llanharan, complete the line-up of new opponents in Division One East Central, which includes Abercwmboi, Abercynon, Porth Harlequins, Rhiwbina, Rhydyfelin and St Josephs.
Cambrian Welfare, last season's Division One champions, have moved up to the Championship East with Aberdare and Mountain Ash.
Admiral National League
Division One East Central
Barry v Penarth
Division Three East Central
Llantwit Major v Llantrisant
Division Five East Central
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