Fixture

Brecon RFC | 1st Team 27 - 29 Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd RFC | 1st Team
Robert William Price
Try 1
Eifion Jones
Try 1
Gareth Morgan Davies
Try 1
Gari Davies
Conversion 3
Penalty 2

Match Report
03 November 2014 / Team News

Brecon 27 - Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd 29

The match between Brecon and close rivals CRCC was a classic top of the table encounter. In spite of the fact that both defences were well organised seven tries were scored as a result of either great creative open play or well organised forward drives. With the teams locked in a titanic battle, during which the lead changed hands on four occasions, the final outcome was only finally resolved in  the dying minutes when CRCC came from behind to take the spoils.

The early exchanges of the game saw the home team putting the visitors under pressure in their own 22. From a scrum close to the visitors line Brecon managed to charge down a relieving defensive kick from the base of a ruck only for the ball cross the dead ball line before it could be touched down. 

It was from another long clearance kick which was fielded on halfway that Brecon moved the ball from one side of the field to the other in two phases involving all of the back three players. Finally, wing,  Jake Crockett broke outside his opposite number and offload the ball inside for Robert Price to score the first try of the game which was converted by Gari Davies.

From the following restart Brecon failed to secure the ball and immediately came under pressure from visitors who after driving the ball for a few phases were awarded a penalty which they kicked to bring the score back to 7 – 3.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure and put together some excellent controlled driving play. This pressure told and the visitors gave away a penalty. Rather than kick for goal, the home team chose to kick to the corner.  Brecon secured the lineout and put together two quick rucks and eventually the ball was popped to Eifion Jones who ran a lovely line to break through the defence and score under the posts.  The try was converted by Gari Davies to take the score out to 14 – 3.

Not for the first time this season and for the second time in this game, securing the kick off proved to be a huge problem.  Brecon gifted the ball to the opposition and after a series of phases they gave away a penalty which was kicked to the corner. CRCC used this platform to score their first try from a well worked driving maul.  The conversion from wide out was missed but the deficit was cut to 14 – 8 after 16 minutes of play.

Brecon continued to dominate the first 25 minutes of the game and looked the most likely to score again.  They crafted a number of opportunities where they had created the extra man but often threw a long miss pass when the simple draw and give would have resulted in a score.

From a 22 restart the visitors regained possession and were again awarded a penalty that was kicked to touch.  The resulting 5-man lineout was disrupted and Brecon were able to hack the ball away and relieve the pressure. 

It was at the 30minute mark that the visitors began to gain in confidence and looked to move the ball and after a few phase of play Brecon centre Eifion Jones gave away a penalty at the ruck close to the Brecon line and was shown a yellow card.

On 35 minutes the visitors set up another rolling maul from the line out and drove the home team back and scored a try that was converted and moved the visitors into a 15 – 14 lead that they took into the half time break.

The visitors started the brighter in the second half and from a loose defensive kick they moved the ball into mid-field and split the home defence to score under the posts and with the conversion kicked the visitors moved to a 22 – 14 lead.

The Brecon forwards worked tirelessly in the second half and made some hard yards that really kept the home side in the game.  On the 50 minute mark after fielding a loose kick the home team counter attacked from deep. Brecon centre Eifion Jones split the visitors defence and Man of the Match Craig Davies was on hand to take a perfectly timed off load and make further yardage before putting second row forward Gareth Davies away for a clear 30 yard run to the try line.  The try was converted and Brecon narrowed the gap to 1 point with the visitors leading 22 - 21

Between 50 and 60 minutes both teams defended excellently and space was at an absolute premium and the only scores in this period of the game came from the boot of Gari Davies as he confidently slotted two penalties.  Brecon had restored a 5 point lead at 27 – 22.

Both teams continued to play attacking rugby right up until the final whistle but it was the visitors who dealt the killer blow with only minutes to go by scoring a try in the corner and an excellent touchline conversion secured the victory for the visitors.

This was a fantastic advert for the game of rugby at this level and a credit to both Clubs.  It was a game played by two evenly matched, well disciplined sides, who were prepared to look to move the ball and play an exciting and entertaining brand of rugby.

Players
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