Barry were left frustrated after a 15-5 defeat at Llanharan in Division One of the Admiral League.
A late try from Josh Edwards in Saturday’s match - at a wet and muddy Dairy Field - had brought the Bombers to within seven points of their hosts, only for a last-minute penalty to snatch away a losing bonus point.
“One point was on offer, so it’s our fault,” said head coach Mike Morgan. “We tried to clear our lines from our own 22. Knock on, scrum, penalty. So it’s disappointment the players are feeling now. We could have, should have, got more out of the game.”
On a pitch liberally sanded in places, both sides struggled. Too many penalties, too many errors, and problems with a slippery ball, particularly when it came to kicking from hand.
Barry’s scrum work was generally strong, but lineout problems in the first half saw them concede two tries, both via catch and drive lineouts. Llanharan had an impressive driving maul, although Barry were more able to contain it after the break.
The first try in the 13th minute was self-inflicted as Barry conceded three penalties, one after another, which took play from Llanharan’s 22 to the Bombers’ 22.
A penalty lineout saw a powerful driving maul produce a touchdown for Jack Walker with Scott Jones converting. Walker did it again for the hosts in the 32nd minute for a 12-0 interval lead.
“Our lineout has been good this season,” said Morgan. “They executed their lineout drive well, and we couldn’t defend it. I just think we came up against a very good team today. That happens.”
Barry, on a difficult pitch and with several key players unavailable, were - according to Morgan, vastly improved from the first time the teams met, back in November, when they were beaten 40-10.
The Bombers’ strong defence meant that unlike their first meeting, there was no second half scoring burst from The Dairymen.
Josh Edwards had rounded off a rare swift attack by going over in the corner in the 77th minute, and at 12-7 Barry had at least a losing bonus point, and possibly more. But from the restart it all went wrong as Scott Jones landedd that late penalty.
“We went off process, off our game plan,” said Morgan. “They didn’t take the bonus point away from us, we gave it away.”
Elsewhere, the much anticipated top-of-the-table clash between Penarth and St Joseph's was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Penarth remain a point clear of their rivals, who will visit the Athletic Ground at a later date for the Bears' crucial final home game of the season.
Cowbridge moved back into second - and the Division Two promotion spots - after beating St Albans 19-15, although they have now played a game more than their rivals.
Llantwit Major recorded back to back wins in Division Three with a 19-15 victory over Fairwater.
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