Hayler helps Barum end loss streak

BARNSTAPLE ended their four-game losing streak with a dominant display against Canterbury.

With Jake Murphy and Ryan Carter back together at centre after injury, the hosts looked more like the side who earned some impressive results early in the season.

But the real star was No.8 Jarrard Hayler, who twice broke from scrums in the opening 15 minutes to help Barnstaple into an early 8-0 lead.

The first resulted in a drop-goal from Gwyn Parks and the second – a blindside dash – ended with Parks chipping into the corner where Jordan Petherbridge was on hand to dot down.

Barnstaple then repelled a spell of pressure from Canterbury, only for their hard work to be undone by Parks having a pass intercepted on the 22 by Dan Smart who ran in a try which he proceeded to convert himself.

Another back-row break, this time from Winston James, brought a second try for Petherbridge six minutes before the halftime interval.

Parks added two penalties – the first from the 10m line – to put Barum 19-7 up by the hour mark.

Then Hayler was again alive to the possibilities at scrum time, darting away to put Will Topps over in the corner.

Barnstaple went close to a bonus-point try three minutes later but Luke Berry was brought down just short of the line.