Barnstaple's bashing belatedly breaks down Barnes' barricade

The visitors started well but the opposition scored first. Barnstaple lost a man for the rest of the game before 30 minutes for a second yellow card offence. Barnes were 24 – 3 ahead early in the second half. Only towards the end of the 3rd quarter did the visitors get there act together again then excellent retention and recycling forced Barnes to concede penalties that allowed them to claw their way back and get the last try before the whistle for the draw. Barnes had 3 yellow cards in the game.

In the first 15 minutes Barnstaple had most of the possession and territory. This despite losing a man for 10 minutes 2 minutes into the game for illegal use of a boot. Barnes had defended for the most part and they lost a flanker for 10 minutes after 9 minutes. After those first 15 minutes Barnes got their first attack going and twice errors let them down. When the visitors kicked out on the full from 18 metres inside their half Barnes put together a very good set of mixed phases. Barnstaple forced an error to regain possession but after two phases they were penalised 19 metres from their line. The kick took Barnes to their line-out 8 metres out. From that the pack recycled close twice to put lock Crane over at 22 minutes. Fullback O'Toole converted.

Several kicks followed the restart before a Barnes' scrum 10 metres inside their half. The visitors were penalised at that and the touch kick gained 24 metres. From the line-out Barnes went wide then advanced recycling 5 times to get a penalty 9 metres out at centre field and a man advantage for the rest of the game for his second yellow card offence. This at 28 minutes and O'Toole kicked the points.

Both teams had the ball for a couple of phases after the restart then kicked. Then Barnes kept the ball, recycling 3 times before being penalised for not releasing. From 12 metres into the opposition half full back Hydleman got his team on the scoreboard after the half-hour.

Four kicks followed the restart giving Barnstaple a line-out close to halfway. This was thrown not-straight. From the scrum Barnes went wide and put together 5 mostly close phases to advance into the 22 before O'Toole sent fly-half Williams-Davies through to the posts at 38 minutes. O'Toole added.

After the restart and two more kicks Barnes attacked again then the whistle went.

Barnes kicked back the second half; the visitors ran and put together 6 phases before dropping the ball. Wing Carlisle got the ball and stood up one defender before beating another to go over wide out at 2 minutes. A very good conversion from the fullback followed for a 24 - 3 lead.

After some errors from both teams Barnstaple got a penalty that took them to their line-out 11 metres into the other half. From this line-out they put together their best set of phases of the game, almost 30. After defending these rather well Barnes then lost a three-quarter for 10 minutes for a tackle that was late and not using arms, this was at 15 minutes. The kick took the visitors to their line-out 8 metres out. Their forwards kept the ball and got close to the line; they recycled twice tight before counter-rucking got the ball for Barnes. It was cleared to touch 20 metres out. From the line-out Barnstaple put together another very good set of phases to get a scrum at the 22. A penalty soon followed after the scrum and two recycles. They ran this and advanced with two more recycles before the defence forced an error to get a put-in 8 metres out. Barnes kicked ahead; Barnstaple ran the ball back; they broke through after recycling wide then broke through twice more for centre Brock to go over near the posts at 23 minutes. Hydleman added.

The visitors were soon back in the other half after the restart and got a penalty at the 10 metre line. They kicked for a line-out 25 metres out. Barnes got tapped ball at that and advanced to an opposition scrum put-in 17 metres inside their half. From that Barnstaple put together 5 mostly close phases to get a penalty 27 metres out. This was kicked for a line-out close to the 5 metre line. The pack kept the ball in and recycled 6 times before a defender knocked the ball on 8 metres out. Barnstaple's pack kept the ball in the scrum to get a penalty 5 metres out and chose another scrum. This time they drove a bit before the Ref. awarded a penalty try at 29 minutes. Hydleman added.

The visitors kept the ball from the restart and ran the ball, recycling twice to get a penalty 5 metres inside their half. A very good kick took them to just inside their opponents' 22. More good retention and recycling got them another penalty after having been forced back about 10 metres. The next kick took them to 13 metres out; they threw the line-out not straight. Barnes did not get the ball out cleanly from their put-in and were penalised 5 metres out. Barnstaple ran this one and put together 6 tight phases to get another penalty 8 metres out. Barnes lost a prop for the next few minutes of the game; the officials did not notice an offence by a Barnstaple player worse than the first one of the game for illegal use of a boot. The visitors chose a scrum which had to be uncontested. After a no. 8 pick-up the forwards kept the ball and after very good close recycling and retention through 10 phases Wing Topps got over at the posts. The whistle went after Hydleman’s conversion.

Dry, Bright, windy & cool; the pitch good.