Barum’s day as they’re blown to victory

BARNSTAPLE made it three wins out of four at home this season with a streetwise performance.

Adapting better to the conditions, they dominated possession and, having played into the storm, would have been the happier side at half-time, despite trailing 6-5.

Gareth Evans, Oli Mason and Danny Southworth carried well as the forwards looked after the ball, with the gale taking kicking for territory out of the equation.

Alex Seers landed two penalties for London Irish but missed two others, while Barnstaple had the bonus of a try by Rob Dugard, burrowing over from close range following a line break by Evans.

With the wind behind them in the second half, Barnstaple continued to dominate possession but this time had the territorial advantage, too.

Jordan Petherbridge put them in front with a penalty from around the ten-metre line. The one Irish chance of a try passed them by in the 57th minute when they created an overlap on the right wing, but outside centre Charlie Broughton spilled the wet ball.

Barnstaple regained control and the match was settled in the 65th minute when No.8 Evans made a trademark break from the back of a scrum and set off an unstoppable sprint to the line.

Petherbridge curled the conversion between the posts to deny Irish a losing bonus point.