In a topsy-turvy game of many errors and yellow cards a-plenty, with both teams guilty, Barnes emerged victorious at Redruth, winning 20-22 in the end. A very important result for the green and gold!

In 10 years of visiting the Recreation Ground, Barnes has never beaten Redruth, and earlier in the season missed the opportunity to beat the Cornishmen at Barn Elms, losing 12-14.

Last Saturday we cancelled out that unenviable record, by holding onto to win 20-22 at the final whistle, leaving Redruth bemoaning their fate, and the Barnes lads in a mood to paint the town their own shade of Red on Saturday night. With a sleepover already part of the plan, I am sure Exeter rocked very loudly as the Barnow Boys were very excited after their win!

After 10 minutes both teams had slotted a penalty to make it 3-3 and it remained that way. With Barnes s turning the screw, the pressure eventually told and Redruth were yellow carded. With only 14 players against them, Barnes pressure led to the magnificent skipper Jamie Collins scoring, Barnes then in a 3-8 lead with eight minutes of the first half left. As halftime approached,

Redruth’s growing woes were compounded when they lost their fullback for kneeing Cizza in the head. Cizza being Cizza, and teak-tough, was aware of some contact but felt no pain!

Now with only 13 players on the pitch, Redruth were up against it, and were unable to prevent the rampaging bullocking of Ali-Bear Ryan, who crashed over right on half-time to give Barnes a very healthy 3-15 lead.

With the slope in their favour in the second half, Redruth looked to clawback the deficit back, but Barnes defended well until the pressure built and Matt Steel saw yellow for Barnes. With their tails up, Redruth scored twice to level the scores, the second one a penalty try.

With full time approaching, it looked like Redruth had broken Barnes’ hearts for the second time this season with a try in the 72nd minute to take the lead 20-15. Crucially, despite both touch judges raising their flags to signal a successful conversion, the referee overruled them and the conversion was not given. With full time fast approaching, Barnes went on the offensive, and in the 77th minute, the pugnacious whippet that is Josh Davies, sniped over to make it all square. Up stepped Josh Hammett to slot the extras and give Barnes a 20-22 lead.

The drama was not over though, in the last minute of the game, Redruth had a penalty from 40 metres out…which thankfully missed and the victory was ours! An excellent victory, which keeps us in 10th place. With Guernsey and London Irish Wild geese all but relegated, and Bees hanging on just, this weekend’s home game against Clifton is crucial to ensure a comfortable position over the last three Saturday’s.

When we played Clifton before, we started the game without a hooker and with Big Al rushed to hospital with appendicitis. Despite this we lead 8-17 with 20 minutes to go but then the wheels came off and we got spanked 44-22, that result signalling a resurgence in their fortunes which has seen them climb to 7th in the league. Interestingly they have the same number of wins as Barnes with 10 but are 7 points ahead of us, so it shows the power of scoring the extra point for the fourth try bonus, they have 13 and we have 5 try bonus points. The mathematicians amongst you will wonder why we are not 8 points behind, that is because we actually have one more losing bonus point than them.

The Mighty Mighty Vets
Last Saturday the Vets just about secured the title of Champions with a massive win against the much tipped Henley Vultures side. In their toughest game of the season thus far, Barnes Vets won 29-7, it looks like an easy win on paper but it was anything but. This weekend the Vets have their final league game of the season against arch local rivals, but good friends, Richmond Heavies.

We will want to win this won for local bragging rights but we also know that Richmond will be wanting to inflict as much pain and humiliation on us as possible so we will need to be right on our game to win this one.

Both games should be absolute crackers so get your backsides down to Barnes to see both games if you can. The Vets kick off at 1:30pm and the 1st XV at 3pm so you will be able to take in both full games should you wish!

The Ladies and the Juniors

Last Sunday, the Ladies 2nd XV faced a stern challenge against Bracknell Ladies and just lost out 15-33 at Barn Elms.

The Under 17’s and the Under 15’s were in action also and the Under 15’s won 29-7 against Old Reigatians and the Under 15’s 20-15 against Battersea Ironsides. Both brilliant results in the context of this still new section of the club and the future playing talent pool for Barnes RFC.

We have a host of Barnes RFC games this weekend, I have already told you about the 1st XV and the Vets but here is the full schedule of games:

Saturday 30th March

• Barnes 1st XV Clifton 1st XV - 3.00pm KO

• Chinnor 2nd XV vs Barnes 2nd XV - 3.00pm KO

• Mayfair Occasionals vs Battersea Ironsides 3's - 2.30pm KO

• Barnes Harrodians Vets vs Richmond Heavies - 1.30pm KO

Here’s to a great weekend of Barnow Rugby, all played in the original spirt we embrace at Barnes RFC.

Onwards and Upwards!

Michael “Rhino” Whitfield - Chairman Barnes RFC