Barry RFC Youth kicked off the new East Wales Premier League with a 31-12 win over Builth Wells.
Back in action after a three-week break, the young Bombers' combination of resilience, speed and skill earned them a comfortable victory in this opening fixture, as they started the build up to the WRU National Youth Plate final in May.
Builth, who were beaten semi-finalists in the WRU Youth Cup, put Barry under pressure in the opening 15 minutes, taking an early 7-0 lead.
But Barry dug in, worked out how to get away from the visitors’ big players, and began to open up the game on a firm Reservoir Field pitch.
“We knew Builth would be good, based on where they got to in the Cup,” said head coach John Dimond. “We made a couple of early errors, and here was a little bit of ring rust with no game for three weeks."
"But they showed how resilient they are. And as the season has gone on, they’ve got better and better.”
The pitch also suited Barry’s playing style. “With the amount of pace we’ve got in our pack, and behind it, a firm ground suits us. We were making line breaks in the middle of the pitch, and putting passes away. It was a great performance all round."
“Our boys just found the answer to everything as the game went on, and it gave me the opportunity to put boys who haven’t had much game time on for the last 15 minutes.”
Dimond singled out Isaac Thomas for special praise. Thomas, who scored a vital interception try in the Plate semi-final, bagged an interception try against Builth. “Every time he got the ball he stood out head and shoulders above everyone.”
Barry’s next league fixture is at home to Merthyr on Saturday April 5th - with other teams in the division incluidng Pontypool United, Aberdare and Caldicot. Dimond will fit in at least two more fixtures prior to the Plate final against Gorseinon at Rodney Parade on May 5 - his swansong as youth coach.
Barry scorers:
Tries – Isaac Thomas 2, Tyler Reinholdt, Zac Edwards, Morgan Prosser
Conversions – Morgan Prosser 3
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