Another win on the road for the Barbarians

The Bedwas Barbarians side began 2023 away to Pontycymmer RFC 1stXV in a last minute rearranged fixture due to another let down in their league.

 The treacherous conditions set both sides up for a hard fought fixture, with the pitch being very heavy underfoot. However, this did not stop the BaaBaas side as they found themselves ahead 7 points to 3 (their seventh win from the last eight games) at the final whistle, which was blown 25 minutes early due to worsening conditions.

Despite the conditions, the boys played some great rugby, putting the ball through the hands and creating plenty of opportunities from the back line.

The first of these coming from a set piece move, creating space for outside centre Kyle Jackson to put a chip behind the Pontycymmer winger, although the home side managed to regather the ball, a charge down from open side Logan Hughes, landed the ball into the hands of Kyle Jackson, who managed to cross the whitewash but fell unlucky due to the ref blowing for a double movement.

Soon after, the boys replied by shipping the ball out wide to wing Tyler Pesci-Griffiths at the half way line, who beat his opposite man and put a chip infield behind the opposition fullback, for Saul Down to gather and touch down behind the sticks, giving Owen Thomas a simple kick to add the extras.

 The half time whistle was blown just as a very heavy storm of rain and hailstones lashed down.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, the ref abandoned the game due to worsening conditions and the pitch quickly becoming unplayable.

 However the Barbarians side can take plenty of positives from their first fixture after the Christmas break and look forward to hosting Caldicot Geese next weekend.