Barry RFC

26/03/2025

Any current year 7 boys thinking about joining a team, these are a great bunch of players, coaches and parents. Get in touch to arrange a session! All abilities welcome 🟢💣

25/03/2025

Report by Ken Watkins

Admiral National League Division 1 East Central
Rhydyfelin 44 Barry RFC 34
Barry produced a battling, competitive and impressive performance, despite having to play from the start with 14 men against a team with sights firmly set on a top three finish, some quality scores earning the Bombers a well-deserved try bonus point.
Injuries and unavailability meant a lack of front row specialists, passive scrums from the start, and when Rhydyfelin found space out wide to score in the second minute it looked like being a tough and demoralising day for the Bombers.
“At this level the one thing you have to do is never give up,” said head coach Mike Morgan. “You keep fighting, that’s what we did, and the game finishes 44-34 playing with 14 men. We were missing a lot of key players today, so we had to make adjustments. But nobody worried, nobody panicked, and we adjusted as a team.”
Rhydyfelin clinched a try bonus point midway through the first half, with Barry’s only response a 15th minute penalty from Jack Davies, but then the turnround started, the Bombers scoring twice in five minutes, the first a penalty try in the 30th minute after Alyn Evans and Aled Rees threatened the home line following a neat free kick move.
Five minutes later Flynn Baker who, along with Victor Corrihons, had a magnificent game as Rhydyfelin inevitably tested both by opting to kick at every opportunity, scored an interception try, Davies converting to close the gap to three points.
A converted try on the stroke of half-time gave Rhydyfelin a ten-point interval lead, and a disputed try one minute into the second half, after a foot in touch hadn’t been spotted, saw the hosts take a 17-point lead. But heads didn’t drop, and Barry produced some exciting quality rugby in response as the teams traded blows.
Davies scored a superb solo try after 44 minutes, Baker got his second in the 68th minute, when Barry were down to 13 men, after Corrihons had made the initial penetrating burst, Davies converting, and Aled Rees rounded things off in the corner as the clock ran down.
“We had a squad of players today who I asked to show courage,” said Morgan. “I want to see it out there, and they did. They stuck to the game plan. It really worked and kept us in the game. And when the game opens up, that’s when you strike.” Which Barry did.
“We saw today some exciting rugby. There’s disappointment at losing today, and the fans may be disappointed by another loss, but they cannot be disappointed at the commitment shown by the players.”
Rhydyfelin: tries – Luke Riley (2 minutes), Ben Fudge (19, 40), Gavin Close (22, 27), Lewis Jones (41), Garyn Lucas (57), Garreg Downs (79); conv – Bailey Roberts 2.

25/03/2025

East Wales Premier League
Barry RFC Youth 31 Builth Wells 12
Back in action after a three-week break, Barry’s combination of resilience, speed and skill earned them a comfortable victory in this opening Premier League fixture, as they started the build up to the WRU National Youth Plate final in May.
Builth, beaten semi-finalists in the National Youth Cup, put Barry under pressure in the opening 15 minutes, taking an early 7-0 lead. But Barry dug in, worked out how to get away from the visitors’ big players, and began to open up the game on a firm Reservoir Field pitch.
“We knew Builth would be good, based on where they got to in the Cup,” said head coach John Dimond. “We made a couple of early errors, and here was a little bit of ring rust with no game for three weeks. But they showed how resilient they are. And as the season has gone on, they’ve got better and better.”
The pitch suited Barry’s playing style. “With the amount of pace we’ve got in our pack, and behind it, a firm ground suits us. We were making line breaks in the middle of the pitch, and putting passes away. It was a great performance all round.
“Our boys just found the answer to everything as the game went on, and it gave me the opportunity to put boys who haven’t had much game time on for the last 15 minutes.”
Dimond singled out Isaac Thomas for special praise. Thomas, who scored a vital interception try in the Plate semi-final, bagged an interception try against Builth. “Every time he got the ball he stood out head and shoulders above everyone.”
Barry’s next Championship fixture is at home to Merthyr on Saturday April 5. Other teams in the division are Pontypool United, Aberdare and Caldicot. Dimond will fit in two more fixtures prior to the Plate final against Gorseinon at Rodney Parade on May 5.
Barry: tries – Isaac Thomas 2, Tyler Reinholdt, Zac Edwards, Morgan Prosser; conv – Prosser 3

25/03/2025

Under-16s Cardiff Rugby Cup Group 2
CRICC 32 Barry RFC 31
This match between the two unbeaten teams in the group went down to the wire, a late penalty snatching victory for the hosts. CRICC clinched a place in the quarter-final, and Barry head for the Plate competition.
Barry were a little ring rusty after three weeks without a game, CRICC taking advantage to run in three unconverted tries in the opening 20 minutes, a penalty from Cam Hughes their only reply. But then Barry settled and started playing through the phases.
From a penalty lineout a quick ball off the top saw Lloyd Beer put hard running George Strong through on a short ball, with defenders barely laying a hand on him, as he dived under the posts. Hughes added the extras.
Barry’s confidence grew, and another attack saw Strong burrow his way over from close range for his and Barry’s second, again converted by Hughes. But a missed tackle let in CRICC for a 22-17 interval lead.
Injuries to Caden O’Shea and Charlie Hutton meant Barry had to rejig their backline, but they dominated the second half, with a third try from powerful Riley Hawkins and a fourth from Tom Halliday, following a backline move started inside their own 22, both converted by the faultless Hughes.
At 31-22 Barry looked in control, but CRICC closed the gap to two points following a five-metre tap. A further penalty saw CRICC take three points and go back in front. Barry pressed, but a knock-on in the last play of the game ended their hopes.
Due to their superior points difference, Barry have been given a bye into the Plate semi-final where they will meet Tonyrefeil or Mountain Ash at Merthyr RFC on April 6 (1.50pm).

23/03/2025

📸 Youth, Builth Wells 22nd March 2025.

Pictures from our Youth’s 31-12 win against Builth Wells on Saturday💣

20/03/2025

Please share this on your social media, great group of boys and coaches!! Come along for a taster session, contact details below 🟢💣

16/03/2025

Three live football games being shown live today:

⚽️13:30 - Arsenal v Chelsea
⚽️16:30 - Carabao cup final:
Liverpool v Newcastle
⚽️19:00 - Leicester v Man Utd

St Patrick’s weekend offers are still live! 👇🏻

Everyone welcome 😀

14/03/2025

10/03/2025

Join us this Super Saturday for a day full of rugby, exclusive drinks deals and live music from Darren Sheppard!🍻🏉

10/03/2025

Join us for Super Saturday, great deals all weekend! 🍻
Everyone welcome 😀

06/03/2025

Report by Ken Watkins

WRU National Youth Plate semi-final
Barry RFC Youth 34 Haverfordwest 19
“I had the misery two years ago, and I’ve got the pleasure this year.” Youth head coach John Dimond was in reflective mood after Barry’s deserved victory in a hard-fought semi-final at Trimsaran.
Controversially beaten in the semi-final of the Youth Cup two years ago, the pain of which has lingered long in the memory, this year the burden was lifted, an interception try 25 minutes into the second half putting some welcome daylight between the teams.
This was quickly followed by another, cutting Haverfordwest well adrift, ensuring the Bombers would be contesting the final, and leaving an emotional Dimond, in his last season as Youth head coach, almost lost for words.
“To be a coach over all the years I’ve been coaching and to bring these boys through to finish things off, I can’t find the words. I’ve got to emphasise it’s a team effort. Some of the boys were dying on their feet out there at the end. We’ve got what we wanted.”
Barry started the game strongly, territorially dominating the first 20 minutes, Tyler Reinholdt going over in the corner after five minutes. But as Barry were off target with their kicks, Haverfordwest gradually eased their way into the game, and a series of penalties in Barry’s 22 ended with Iori Curtis scoring in the 29th minute, Rio Phillips converting.
Man of the match Isaac Thomas put Barry back in front in the 33rd minute, following a kick ahead and chase by Ellis O’Grady, Morgan Prosser converting from in front of the posts. But that 12-7 interval lead vanished early in the second half, Phillips going over after a quick tap penalty, and converting his own score.
Prosser’s penalty put Barry back in front before Thomas’ 65th minute interception saw him race away from just inside the Haverfordwest half, changing the momentum of the game, and Morgan’s conversion opening an eight-point gap.
Joe Jenkins added another, following a quick tap penalty, four minutes later, Prosser’s conversion putting Barry 29-14 ahead and one foot in the final, where they will meet Gorseinon, who beat Crymych 19-8.
Max Fenn scored in the corner for Haverfordwest after 72 minutes before Zac Edwards underlined Barry’s late domination with a score out wide five minutes from the end.
Dimond, who has been at Barry as a player and coach for 25 years, cannot remember a team from the club reaching a national final. “All the boys finishing their Youth rugby will go into the seniors with a badge of honour. And the teams coming behind them will have big boots to fill.”
And his final word, on a day when his Youth team put an end to two years of hurt? “Ecstatic.”

06/03/2025

03/03/2025

📸 Youth Welsh Plate Semi Finals - Haverfordwest, 1st March 2025.

Pictures from our Youth’s 34-19 win against Haverfordwest on Saturday. Massive congratulations to the boys, looking forward to the final💣

01/03/2025

🏉It’s Match Day!🏉

It’s a glorious day for rugby ☀️ and we’ve got 3 games for you today!

What a day we have in store at the reservoir fields!
Be sure to stay at the club after the game to enjoy live music and a beer or two 🍻

Come on the bombers! 💚💣