05/01/2026
Report by Ken Watkins
Admiral National League Division 1 East Central
Penarth 14 Barry RFC 8
One missed tackle and one fortuitous bounce settled this fiercely-contested derby game in Penarthโs favour as, once again, Barry were left bitterly disappointed by defeat and knowing the result might so easily have gone the other way.
But if Barry were disappointed, Penarth were mightily relieved. Their much-vaunted attack, which has been scoring tries for fun this season, was held in check by the Bombersโ largely excellent defensive display.
Barry were set up initially to blunt the threat, with a mobile back five in the scrum stopping the danger out wide. Penarth rarely threatened down the flanks, but when they did, Barry generally snuffed out the attack and produced some excellent turnovers in the process.
But, equally, Barry rarely really threatened in the Penarth half, opting to kick at times when keeping possession might have proved more rewarding. Owen Rees had given the Bombers the lead with a ninth-minute penalty, but they were unable to build on it, despite the occasional fluid attack.
Head coach Mike Morgan had mixed emotions after the game. โComing to Penarth, a top table team, and to come away with a (losing bonus) point, is a positive,โ he said. That and the excellent defensive performance he described as โtwo massive pluses for us. As players and coaches we got a lot right today.
โWe can be proud of the way we stuck at it. But if only we had found a little bit of purchase in their half, if weโd only been a bit more clinical, and not been so eager. We should have settled into our game in their half and kept a bit more ball.โ
Penarth had taken the lead in the 29th minute when a missed tackle let George Roberts in for their opening try, Rhys Mottram converting.
Nothing between the teams at the interval, but when the game slowed in the second half, Barry made changes up front and began to totally dominate the scrums and driving mauls.
Penarthโs anxiety was briefly stilled in the 66th minute when a kick ahead bounced badly for Barry, but perfectly for Mottram to score under the posts, and then add the extras. The relief on the sidelines was palpable.
When Barry struck back five minutes later, Alyn Evans finishing off a tap penalty move, closing the gap to one score, the concern became obvious once more, with one of their coaches sent off for disputing a decision. But Penarth held out, gained possession with the last move of the game, and swiftly booted the ball into touch.
*In a crucial month Barry have fixtures against Abercwmboi, the team immediately above them, at the Reservoir Field on Saturday, and away matches at Cambrian Welfare (January 17) and Rhydyfelin (January 31), the teams immediately below them. All three opponents have games in hand. Llanishen, beaten back in October, visit Barry on January 24.
