The new Admiral League season began with newly promoted Penarth romping home to a 45-3 victory at Barry in Division One East Central.
A seven-try victory in the first meeting for six years between these Vale clubs ended with the visitors claiming local bragging rights.
This certainly wasn’t the result many would have expected, but derby matches rarely match expectations.
The emotion and intensity of the occasion seemed to have a greater effect on a Bombers side fielding several young players, with a large crowd keeping up the volume throughout and Penarth's supporters certainly having plenty to cheer about.
Predictably there were flare-ups - three in the first ten minutes -with the third leaving Barry a man short courtesy of a yellow card and Penarth capitalising with a couple of tries against the 14 men. A second yellow card later cost two further tries.
“We just didn’t get into shape,” said Barry head coach Mike Morgan. “Our focus just wasn’t there, and we were not dialled in from a playing perspective. As a result we made too many mistakes, which gave Penarth momentum and allowed them opportunities."
“I think with a lot of it out there, we beat ourselves. That’s what stings, players coming off the field knowing they could have, should have done much better. We didn’t do what we are supposed to do, and that’s a tough one to take.”
Owen Rees gave Barry a second-minute lead, but any hopes that this would prove a springboard for a perfect opening day for the hosts were soon dashed.
Three tries from Rhys Benson (10'), Spencer Robinson (23') and Josh Hurley saw Penarth go 21-3 ahead at the break, with Barry getting increasingly frustrated as decisions went against them.
Four more tries followed in the second half - Luc Kearn Rorms opened the scoring three minutes after the break, with the second from Miles Jones (55') awarded after Penarth appeared to knock on in the build-up. Jones went onto score again on the hour mark
Barry kept battling, largely in vain, with Flynn Baker producing a brilliant try-saving tackle in the 73rd minute, but by then, the game had long gone, with George Roberts having the last word for Penarth with four minutes left. Ben Jones converted five of the eight tries.<
Morgan felt this was a hard lesson for Barry’s young players. “What we have learned today is that you have to play with two things, high emotion because it’s sport, but at that higher emotive state you have to keep your concentration. We didn’t.”
A minute’s silence was observed before the match in memory of former Barry scrum-half Geoff Coles and long-term club member Michael Holmes.
*There are no league matches on September 14th. Barry visit Llanishen on September 21st while Penarth host their first home game against Abercwmboi.
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Llantwit Major got off to a winning start in Division Three East Central, beating Llantrisant 21-8 in their opening game of the season.
Llantwit earned promotion after being crowned Division Four champions last season.
And in Division Five, Old Penarthians were narrowly beaten 11-10 at Cefn Coed.
Cowbridge begin their Division Two campaign at home to Gilfach Goch next Saturday while newly promoted Dinas Powys are at home to Llandaff North in Division Four.
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Barry and Penarth prepare for derby opener
