After a late rally from Worthing, Barns Green hang on for a 26-19 win to continue their unbeaten run.
After trys from Matthew Sprigge and Jack Bone in the first half, you'd be forgiven for thinking this game would be a walk over for the Green and Gold but the second half was very different.
Barns Green had started strong. Matthew Hoyte made sure the Worthing defence remained on their heels with some cute kicks over the rushing defensive line and Nick Coulson and Joe Serna were doing their bit at the breakdown winning turn overs and penalties. Worthing were struggling for territory only visiting Barns Green's 22 twice in the first half. By all accounts this looked like it could be a cricket score. The team were playing some of the best rugby they've played all season and their recent training sessions were really showing its worth.
All 4 of Barns Green's trys came from fast ball out to the wings. Spotting mismatches and communicating them meant that BG took advantage of those mismatches. Jack Bone bossing his way over the line from the 22 and Sprigge running some brilliant shoulder lines in support to cross over the line on his return from injury. Nick Cooper was value from the boot slotting 3 out of 4 long range kicks to add the extra points.
It had been two months since Barns Green played a competitive game and it started to show in the second half. Where they had been so dominant in the first half, the second half saw missed tackles, handling errors and slow line speed. It didn't take long for Worthing to capitalise on this as they began to put together some effective phases marching down the pitch to BGs try line. Worthing broke through with their pack smashing the ball over from short range. Although BG were 2 trys to the good, nerves were starting to set in.
Worthing scored their 3rd try and it felt like this wasn't to be Barns Green's day. Everything was going against them and they couldn't hold onto possession for more than 2 minutes. Their lack of game time was starting to show as errors began to mount. Recent defensive work at training was about to be put to the test. Hold out for 10 minutes to secure the win or allow Worthing to complete their come back.
Some tenacious defending in all areas of the park meant that the green and gold were able to keep Worthing at bay. Not all of it was pretty but they managed to hold their line at a time when it would have been so easy to drop off and let the win slip away.
Worthing mounted one last attack spinning the ball out to the wing only for a handling error allowed Danny Conway in to grubber the ball clear away from danger. The final whistle blew and the men in green and gold, hands on knees, took a moment to gather themselves before being congratulated by Worthing.
It was a real test for Barns Green against a dangerous team but they managed to hold out. After the game, Tom Bouet made sure the boys were aware of their achievement. No doubt the Green and Gold will learn much more from this game rather than a cricket score game it looked to be in the first half.
Barns Green host Shoreham next at the Field of Dreams. This is bound to be another tough game but with this win they will surely go into it with a new found confidence built from adversity.
Try Bone - 2
Sprigge – 2
Conversions Cooper - 3
Man of the Match
Matthew Hoyte
Team Sheet:
1. Matt Taylor
2. Stephen Whittington
3. Danny Conway
4. James Dickson
5. Tom Smith
6. Joe Serna
7. Nick Coulson
8. Carl Brewster
9. Thomas Bouët (c)
10. Matthew Hoyte
11. George Wilson
12. Rory Yeates
13. Nick Cooper
14. Jack Bone
15. Matt Sprigge
16. Mike Mann
17. Tom Green
18. Jamie Paige