Our rugby correspondent Ken Watkins looks back at Barry's Admiral League campaign.
A season of progress, but also, a season of missed opportunities.
Barry’s continuing improvement, particularly in the second half of the Division 1 East Central campaign, comfortably saw off the threat of relegation.
Crucially, the Bombers completed the double over the teams below them, but there were a number of other games where they saw winning positions, or a losing bonus point, snatched away in the dying moments. Points lost which, fortunately, did not prove crucial in the battle for survival.
Barry ended the season eighth in a ten-team division, 23 points above Rhiwbina, who go down with Porth Harlequins, winning six of their 18 games, four coming in the second half of the campaign.
Having started the season with four straight defeats, Barry began the second half with three wins on the bounce - the first being a 47-33 derby victory at Penarth, revenge for their 45-3 defeat at home on the opening day of the season.
The Bombers also scored more points, 216, in the second half of the season, against 164 in the first half.
The change came when head coach Mike Morgan emphasised to his players that league points could prove the vital ingredient in the battle for survival.
“We didn’t score too many tries in the first half of the season,” he said, “but four tries and you have a bonus point and possibly win matches. Those small numbers – try bonus points, losing bonus points – are important.”
Barry scored 22 tries in the first half of the season, and 34 in the second half, ending the campaign with seven try bonus points and three losing bonus points.
Closing out tight games proved elusive. The Bombers lost to a late score in both games against Abercwmboi, going down 22-21 away and 34-31 at home. Abercynon won 24-21 at the Reservoir Field, and a late penalty at Llanharan saw the hosts win 15-5 to deny Barry a losing bonus point.
“If we want to position ourselves comfortably in the league, we have to see off these games,” said Morgan. “With a few minutes to go, if we are still winning, we have to shut up shop, kill the clock.”
He is optimistic that next season will show further improvement. “We’ve got strength in depth, a few players coming up from the Youth next season, some players looking to return, and we’ve recruited a couple from outside Barry,” he said, “so next season is looking very positive.”
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