Barry RFC Youth got back to winning ways after beating Cardiff Quins 21-15 in the Cardiff South 1 League.
The young Bombers fought back from trailing 15-7 to earn a hard-fought last-minute victory at the Reservoir Field.
With six players unavailable, Barry called up talented under-16s player Marley Paines-Lang as backs cover.
Barry, guilty of starting slowly in their previous two outings, came out of the blocks firing and were quickly rewarded when Lloyd Beer put right wing Charlie Hutton away to canter in from 40 metres with Tom Provis converting.
Barry seemed much more up for the battle after last week's defeat to Rhiwbina - they were more dominant in the contact area and had a real edge at scrum time. Unfortunately, this edge was short-lived with Quins going uncontested early following a front row injury.
That changed the flow of the game, and with Barry guilty of trying to overplay and some dubious decisions at the breakdown, the Bombers found themselves defending their line time and again as the half wore on.
The defence proved resilient, but after multiple penalties, Quins were able to force their way over on the stroke of half-time for a 7-7 score at the interval.
In the second half, Barry had the slope, but couldn’t seem to make it pay and found themselves 12-7, and then, 15-7 down following a string of penalties and failed attempts to clear their lines.
Ten minutes from time, Barry brought on Noah Williams in the back row and Tom Forrester in the front row, and quickly found themselves with much-needed territory and possession, which resulted in hard-working second row Mav Jennings forcing his way over, with Provis converting to bring Barry back to within a point and set up a grandstand finish.
Barry, who were now camped in their opponents’ half, thought they had won it when returning no. 8 Rhyd Jones went over, only for the try to be chalked off by a knock on in the act of scoring.
With the last play of the game, and after another accurate lineout throw from captain Rhys Behrens, Barry showed some composure when it mattered, and five phases later replacement prop Forrester forced his way over for the winning score and his first in Barry colours, with Provis adding the extras.
“We were pleased with the improved start and defensive effort throughout,” said head coach Peter O’Sullivan, “but felt the game would have been much more comfortable had the right decisions been made at key moments. The players’ singing in the clubhouse afterwards also needs a lot of work!”
The young Bombers have a week off, before visiting Llandaff on Saturday 11th October, where they will be looking to make it three wins from their first four games.
*After a week off, Barry’s first team return to Admiral League action on Saturday with a visit to Abercwmboi - the hosts having lost their first three league matches and suffered an early Division One Cup exit to leaders Penarth.
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