Better than losing

Struggle to play wide but Barnes' pack dominate to ensure revenge for reverse fixture

The first half was notable for [1] zero points scored; [2] Tring passing forward 5 metres out with an overlap and the line at their mercy, early in the second quarter; [3] Barnes losing the line-out contests despite having much taller forwards; and [4] 12 penalties, 5 against Tring. Tring just missed with a penalty kick before halftime and had failed with another earlier. An independent spectator opined that it looked a good game.

Early in the second half Barnes threw another line-out not straight then dropped a high ball that resulted in a penalty for the visitors who kicked it to touch 5 metres out. From the lineout the Ref. said their wing Rheeder scored a try at the far corner from a chip over the defence, despite a defender having touched the ball down first. Newton's best kick made it a 7-pointer. Six minutes later Williams Davies kicked an easy penalty for Barnes.

Towards the end of the third quarter the visitors lost a man for 10 minutes then the Ref's X-Ray vision enable him to judge that Barnes did not score a try and were held-up when their pack trundled over from a close range line-out and no opposition player could have been near the ball. Despite this, a minute later from a 5 metre scrum he had to give it when the same happened and no.8 Crimmens was on the ball. Newton missed with another penalty kick soon after. Barnes' pack's dominance in the scrums and drives was now clear and from a maul Ball was quickly got wide to Wilde who weaved past two defenders, scorching his way to touch down near the posts at 28 minutes. Williams-Davies added. Soon afterwards Newton kicked an easy one for the last points.

There were fewer penalties in the second half. A long-time Tring supporter said it was a good Tring performance. Several Barnes' supporters thought their team hadn't played well and were perhaps a bit lucky to have won. Tring brought lots of vociferous supporters with them who claimed huge numbers of Barnes' misdemeanours being missed by the referee and unanimously turned Nelson's eye to similar apparent offences by their own team. The weather was excellent while the pitch was not great.

Barnes are still second in the league; Tring are in the relegation zone but they have won 4 of their 6 games previous to this and one of the two losses was against Dorking. They were bottom of the league when they beat top of the league Barnes in the autumn, so may well survive the cut.