Garvey Grabs Two Tries As Baa-baas Hit Back To Beat Wales

WALES 25 BARBARIANS 40
The season that seems to have gone on for so long in Wales – too long for most that is – was finally laid to rest last night with the national side once again showing its Jekyll and Hyde tendancies against the Barbarians.
A crowd of 21,500 pitched up for this end of season contest which was hugely significant considering the Welsh squad will leave for a testing summer examination in South Africa on Friday where back to back Test matches in Bloemfontein and Cape Town will provide an honest assessment of the latest generation of internationals.
On this occasion, it was more of a bonding exercise with the likes of Steve Williams, now of Northampton, and the returning Ben Evans and Mark Taylor bedding in to a side showing significant change from the 15 on duty against Scotland in the final Six Nations Championship game in April.
And for 40 minutes, it was a wholly satisfying exercise with three tries providing adequate proof that there is plenty of life left in the side. After that, well, it was back to the bad old days.
Stephen Jones put Wales infront with a penalty in 12 minutes and Taylor, back in harness after missing most of the season with a knee injury, crossed for a try five minutes later.
Craig Morgan, the Cardiff wing, eased Wales further ahead when he finished a sweeping move seven minutes before the interval and Gavin Thomas of Bath followed suit three minutes later after a length of the field move involving nine pairs of hands.
Unfortunately, the second half was anything but acceptable for Wales and the coach Steve Hansen will be best served studying the second half of the video before the initial test against the Springboks.
First Ollie Smith, the Leicester Tiger, clawed back a try for the Baabaas in the 43rd minute and on 50, Thinus Delport doubled his side’s tally with a second on the right.
Delport added his second, Adrian Garvey two more and Pat Lam a sixth as the game turned on its head and left Wales on the wrong end of another home reverse.
Scorers
Wales: Tries: Mark Taylor, Craig Morgan, Gavin Thomas; Cons: Stephen Jones (2); Pens: Stephen Jones (2)
Barbarians: Tries: Ollie Smith, Thinus Delport (2), Adrian Garvey (2), Pat Lam
Cons: Braam van Straaten (5)
Wales: K Morgan (Swansea); R Williams (Cardiff), M Taylor (Swansea), A MArinos (Newport), C Morgan (Cardiff); S Jones (Llanelli), D Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Llanelli), R McBryde (Llanelli), B Evans (Swansea), S Williams (Northampton), G Llewellyn (Neath), G Thomas (Bath), M Williams (Cardiff), C Charvis (Swansea, capt)
Barbarians: P Montgomery (South Africa); T Delport (South Africa), O Smith (Leicester Tigers), P Alatini (New Zealand), J Noon (England); B van Straaten (South Africa), M Robinson (New Zealand); C Dowd (New Zealand), R Ibanez (France), M Reggiardo (Argentina), D Weir (Scotland), K Roche (Saracens), P Lam (Samoa, capt), J Kronfeld (New Zealand), J Williams (Australia)
Replacements
Wales: Gethin Jenkins (Pontypridd) for Iestyn Thomas 41mins; Richard Parks (Pontypridd) for Martyn Williams 41mins;
Jamie Robinson (Cardiff) for Andy Marinos 42mins); Neil Jenkins (Cardiff) for Stephen Jones 50 mins; Robert Sidoli (Pontypridd) for Steve Williams 65 mins; Mefin Davies (Pontypridd) for Robin McBryde 65 mins; Ryan Powell (Cardiff) for Dwayne Peel 70 mins.
Barbarians: A Garvey (South Africa for M Reggiardo 53 mins; R Strudwick (London Irish) for D Weir 48 mins; P Muller (South Africa) for P Alatini 49 mins; L Botham (Newcastle) for O Smith 65 mins; K Chesney (Saracens) for J Williams 70 mins; M Ledesma (Argentina) for R Ibanez 78 mins; O Tonu’u (New Zealand) for M Robinson 78 mins.
Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland)