Pre-Match Information

Match Report

The Sports welcomed a Barry side to the Bandstand field having had to make some considerable changes to the side that has been performing so well in the last month. It was a measure of the depth of the squad that they performed so well against a side that had beaten them by 40 points in September. The early pressure from the Sports was intense, but as of late, they could not seem to finish their stalwart efforts off and were camped in the Barry 22 metre area for a full 20 minutes.

When Barry eventually made it to the Sports 22 area they were awarded a penalty and full back Danny Ryan took the visitors to a 0-3 lead against the run of play. From the restart there was good running from Jamie Lorimer supported by Roddy Boobyer but again the finish was hurried and the killer punch just not there. A long kick deep into the Sports 22 was well chased down by Barry’s left wing Dave Provis and full back Hugh Rosser forced in to a hurried clearance, from which another penalty was awarded and Danny Ryan extended the visitors into an unlikely 0-6 lead.

As the half ended the Sports pack with Gareth Bartlett, Jay Dent and Gary Punter all making impressive hard yard drives. The second half continued with skipper Kurt Dent urging his side with a superb captain’s display. But the side were further disrupted when centre Scott Narbeth left the field as did Gary Punter with an eye injury. But the subs bench again showed some depth with Jayce Evans showing good pace in the centre and Johnny Koloi performing well for Punter. Full back Hugh Rosser looked safe under high balls and very dangerous on the break, with some of his touchline clearances quite magnificent. With coach Punter off the field it was fellow coach Rhys Dowling who worked alongside skipper Dent to keep the Sports focussed in the latter stages when he replaced Jay Dent.

Ian John as the other wing forward with Dowling they were a strong defensive unit. With 15 minutes on the clock it was a combination of experience through Boobyer and speed and guile from Rosser that proved to be the killer finish so lacking in the first half. Boobyer chased a raking kick that looked to be aimlessly bouncing out of play on the Barry 10 yard line, but Rosser showed just how good he is as he never stopped running and following the play, seeing this, Boobyer just popped the ball inside to Rosser who out-paced the cover to score half way out for a kick that Josh Davies made look easy.

Now with the Sports in a 7-6 lead it was up to Barry to break down the Sport’s defence, but they could not and the Sports ended with a well deserved win.
Man of the match was the young man and full back from the Sports youth team Hugh Rosser and close behind him was Kurt Dent who matured with a fine piece of captaincy.