Fixture

Brecon RFC | 1st Team 42 - 15 Abercynon RFC | 1st Team
Gari Davies
Conversion 4
Penalty 3
Try 1
Joey Joseph Morgan
Try 1
Jake Crockett
Try 1
Aaron Wayd Horne
Try 1

Match Report
16 November 2014 / Team News

Brecon 42 - Abercynon 15

In the middle of the Autumn Internationals, when the SWALEC League programme is put on hold, Brecon were pleased to host Abercynon in a Mid District Bowl first round match. The Bowl competition, initiated in the 2012/13 season, has been a great stimulus for Mid District Teams from Division 2 and below. It has provided welcome competition during the otherwise barren autumn and Six Nations International periods. For Brecon, in particular, it has proved to be a catalyst in transforming the fortunes of the season. During the two previous autumns Brecon recorded their first wins of the season in their round 1 matches in November of the respective years and from there on the impetus gained from those first wins spurred the side on to successful second halves of the seasons. In fact the highlight of 2012/13 was the victory over league champions, Dowlais, in the final of the Bowl. That feat was almost repeated last year when they drew with Wattstown in the final only to lose to their adversaries on try count. So there was a huge incentive to safely negotiate this first hurdle and start on a road which could ultimately lead to a hat trick of finals.

Abercynon, their opponents were no strangers to Parc de Pugh. Generally, in the past, they have held the upper hand but with Brecon having already, this season, defeated their opponents on their ground there was good reason for optimism in the home camp. That was not to dismiss the challenge of respected opponents, who made life difficult for Brecon in their earlier encounter but with some players returning from injury and following a short, welcome break from action the optimism was justified.

The match itself provided some important pointers for what will be an interesting final flourish to the first half of what has been a great season so far for the home side. The scrum again showed itself to a potent weapon. The starting front row of Josh Williams, Josh Davies and Andy Nicholl all had good games, causing their opponents problems at scrum time and showing up well in the loose. The replacements, Ryan Harris and Aaron Horne also made an impact when they joined Andy Nicholl to form a front row which confirmed its superiority when Brecon were awarded a penalty try late in the game. Aaron Horne also added his name individually to the try scorers when he showed great mobility to support a wide attack before crashing over in the corner.

In the build up to that try the Brecon man of the match, Craig Davies, featured a number of times both running and passing in what was a cameo of his whole match performance. The Number 8 ran intelligently, drove hard and showed lovely soft hands which allowed him to off load superbly. His passing out of the tackle created the first try for debutant wing Joey Morgan and Morgan himself showed huge attacking promise throughout the game. He and Jake Crockett also worked well together to create another try which Crockett claimed when he cut back on a great angle and then stepped around the full back to score under the posts.

Another positive was the form of outside half Gari Davies. He kicked and distributed well and when the opportunity presented itself he ran effectively. His running brought him a try to add to his three successful penalties and four conversions allowing him to rack up a personal total of 22 points.

While there was great satisfaction from the emphatic win there were a number of negatives and few items which need to be addressed. The first was the unfortunate injuries to Wyn Davies and Aaeron Evans. Both had been out with long term injuries and both made good starts to the game only for their return to the team to be cut short when they conceded further injuries which may mean another long spell on the touch line.

Other negatives included Brecon’s continuing failing to secure the kick off. Twice in this match they scored only for their inability to control the ball at kick off to lead, in the first instance, to a penalty which was converted and in the second gave away territory from where Abercynon scored a try to draw level at 10 points apiece. In the second instant the visitors made the most of the territory offered to them and showed that they could be dangerous. In a long cross field run their outside half bounced out of a few would be tackles and put his left wing in space. He showed himself to be a good finisher as he kicked ahead and easily won the race to re-gather and score.

The wing also showed his pace when Brecon, not for the first time, made a glaring error on half way. They yielded up the ball and the left wing showed a clean pair of heels to everyone, eventually scoring in the corner to keep Abercynon in the game by reducing their deficit to 8 points well into the second half.

The last quarter, however, calmed any nerves as Brecon added a further 19 unanswered points to end in buoyant mood. That positive mood is something that needs to be maintained through training during the next, inactive, three weeks before the serious business of the league recommences against Fairwater at Parc de Pugh on 6th December.

Players
Gallery

There doesn't appear to be any tagged photos.

Upload and Tag Photos
|