Another strong 2nd 1/2 gets 1st win

The visitors' kick-off against the wind went straight out but they got a free-kick at the scrum and ran it, making little progress. From their second scrum Barking's Ratford sent a good kick deep into the other half to 10 metres out. From their line-out Barnes cleared to touch, not far from halfway then stole the line-out and kicked to touch again. They forced Barking back then kicks were exchanged before Barking got their first attack going and broke though strongly in midfield to get an easily kickable penalty on 6 minutes and Ratford took the points. Barking secured the restart before an error gave Barnes their first put-in; they got a free-kick at that and ran it. This time their backs combined well with centre Tiarks prominent to get close near the corner before lock Williams took the ball over the line before 10 minutes. The conversion was wide. The restart was long and went into touch behind the try line. Barking's no. 9 Brown started hassling his opposite number at the put-in. Fouracre delayed and the Ref. gave the home team a free-kick which they ran. With a couple of passes they advanced but the last was forward then were penalised at the scrum. The kick took the visitors to the opposition 22 and from their line-out they tried wide ball. The defence was good and won a turnover and then kicked high. Barnes kept ball close before the defence forced another error and get another scrum put-in. This time the free-kick was given against Barnes and Barking ran it well to get into the other half before being penalised for not releasing. The touch-kick took the visitors to their line-out at the opposition 10 metre line and from that they sent ball wide. After Tiarks had made some yards the ball was recycled twice then got to centre Hersey who put fullback Adams through and he crossed at 18 minutes. The conversion missed.

The visitors cleared the restart to touch, still in their own half. From the line-out Barking's pack set for a drive and advanced a bit before the defence got the next scrum. They kept the ball in the back of the scrum to get a penalty and the Ref. added 10 more metres. They kicked for a line-out but were penalised at that; another very good kick from Ratford took Barking to their line-out 10 metres out. Their drive soon went down but they next kept ball tight before releasing wide with their last pass being too difficult to catch then the Ref. went back to a previously signalled penalty 5 metres out together with reducing the opposition to 14 men for 10 minutes. Barking put the ball into touch for a line-out and drive. Barnes didn't compete in the air but prepared to counter the drive. The defence stopped the drive but Barking kept ball tight for prop Jones to go over wide out at 25 minutes. The conversion missed. Barking secured the restart scored again without their opponents touching the ball. They kept ball tight recycling well through several phases and advancing then released once to centre before another close recycle then a wider one sent fullback Barham to the corner at 28 minutes to take back the lead. The conversion missed. Barking secured the restart and recycled several times without advancing then Barnes got the next scrum put-in and another free-kick at that. They ran this into the 22 where the defence won a turnover; another very good touch-kick took Barking to an opposition line-out just inside Barnes' 22. They stole that line-out and with one recycle opened up the defence and centre Wackett went through unopposed after 32 minutes. Ratford added the conversion and Barking had scored 17 points in the 10 minutes of their man advantage.

Barking cleared the restart to touch still inside their half. After the line-out and a release to centre by Barnes, Barking were penalised. The kick took the visitors to another line-out 9 metres out. Their pack took the ball to the line despite good defence and they were held-up over it; at the visitors' 5metre scrum Barking got a free-kick for an incorrect feed. This was cleared to touch; Barnes tried wider ball from the line-out then the home team forced another error and cleared to touch into the other half. From the penultimate line-out Barnes kicked to touch for territory and Barking put the last ball into touch for the whistle. The visitors secured the second half restart and put together a good sequence of mixed phases with Hersey prominent to get a penalty just outside the 22 at centre field inside the first minute and McIntyre kicked the points. Hersey ran the restart back into the other half and another good set got the visitors to 14 metres out before a knock-on gave the opposition a scrum. Pressure at that gave Barnes the put-in; an error lost them ground but they did get another 18 metres out. The ball was kept in at first then a back row pick up was recycled to Hersey who crossed not far from the posts after 6 minutes. McIntyre levelled the scores. Barking regained from a tapped ball after their high restart before being forced into touch. After the line-out Barnes made no progress then each team had a scrum at about the same place in the visitors' half. From the second Barnes went wider then Williams made good ground then three more phases took them to a penalty 7 metres out at 12 minutes. McIntyre kicked for the lead.

The visitors secured the restart then kicked over and got the next put-in when they pre vented the opposition from getting the ball to ground. They got a penalty at that and kicked to touch into the other half. Soon after their line-out and releasing wide they were penalised for not releasing and lost 10 metres for arguing. Barking kicked for their line-out 12 metres into the opposition half and from that scored quickly. Keeping ball close to the forwards this took some good passing and three recycles, the last at the blind side for wing Brown to take back the lead after 17 minutes. The conversion was missed. The restart resulted in a penalty for Barking deep in their half and they ran it; they advanced well with 3 recycles and an offload before Ratford sent a good kick to touch not far outside the opposition 22. Then from the line-out Barnes attacked well; after first keeping ball tight, Fouracre went blind then 4 recycles and an offload got them to another penalty 7 metres out in centre field, plus a man advantage for 10 minutes and McIntyre again kicked for the lead. This after 22 minutes. The visitors secured the restart and tried an up-and-under; Barking were caught in possession but got the ball way. It soon went loose and was hacked up field by Barnes. Barking retrieved it and ran the ball before kicking out on the full. The line-out resulted in a put-in for the opposition and from it Barking's backs broke through to the 22 and then recycled 6 times before being turned over. The visitors got the ball to Tiarks who set off and fed flanker Smyth who sent wing Bevan away to the posts at 28 minutes. McIntyre kicked for an 8 point lead.

Barking regained their restart and recycled twice before kicking for territory into touch in the opposition 22. Barnes moved up field from their line-out to one for the home team. Barnes were penalised at that and sent back to defend another line-out in their 22. From that Barking varied their recycling to get another penalty at the 22. They ran this and got another line-out now 13 metres out. This time their pack kept the ball and advanced then no.8 Tourna broke off for the final score at the corner at 33 minutes. The conversion missed. Barking secured the longer restart and after 2 recycles got a scrum 12 metres from their own line. A good kick got them up to half way for an opposition line-out. From which Barnes advanced to get a kickable penalty that McIntyre missed. The visitors knocked on the catch from the high 22 drop-out then were penalised at the following scrum. The kick didn't go into touch; two more followed; a forward pass gave Barking another scrum, still in their half. This was almost immediately followed by one for their opponents and after that Barnes varied their recycling through 6 phases until being turned over. Barking got out of their half and then were awarded a penalty that they ran strongly to get into the opposition 22. They recycled tight several more times before they too were turned over. The visitors kick to relieve and the whistle went after the catch was dropped. The second half seemed rather long.

100% overcast, quite a bit of wind, dry at the start and mostly throughout but a short shower just before half-time, pitch firm to hard.