Fixture

Brecon v Crymych – Parc de Pugh 20^th April 2024

Final score 38-13

As Brecon approach the end stages of their inaugural season in the Championship of the National League Structure, the sun finally broke through for their final home game of the campaign, and showed Parc de Pugh in all its springtime glory. The backdrop of such a rare and fine day was supplemented by the playing surface that had been prepared, which was a testament to the hard work and efforts of the groundstaff, and which provided a fast paced track that offered an opportunity to entertain the crowd and large number of sponsors who attended.

The harsh weather has been keenly felt by all, including those in the farming industry, and it was a welcome sight to see large numbers of the rural communities descend on to PdP as part of a regular sponsorship arrangement. What unfolded before the eyes of all who were at the game, was an entertaining, and competitive, match that showcased the talents of the local squad, and which provided a fitting climax to the senior home fixtures.

The visitors for this occasion were the impressive group from Clwb Rygbi Crymych, a club that has just celebrated its fortieth year in existence but which has, in that relatively short period, emerged as an exemplar community club that has enjoyed significant success at the higher levels of the league structure, but which has also proved to be something of a conveyor belt for talent from the Preseli Mountain region, with a large number of their players featuring at regional and national levels. The club from the north of Pembrokeshire are similar to Brecon insomuch as they are based very much on a strong rural community and are also based high in the foothills of the local mountain range.  

They are also a club that has experienced something of a mixed season, as some early momentum has given way to some defeats, although they remain in theoretical contention for one of the promotion spots in to the newly formed Community Premiership for next season. The relative ‘unknowns’ over the structure of the leagues moving forward has produced some challenges for clubs as they seek to plan for the years ahead, and this has added an extra layer of uncertainty which is shaping the denouement of the league.

Notwithstanding, Crymych travelled east in the knowledge that they had given Brecon a stiff test in the corresponding fixture in the Preselis, and the home squad had prepared for an encounter that would need a concerted 80 minute effort from all members. This proved to be a telling factor in the final result as the home team, ultimately, recorded a comfortable win on the scoreboard, although that didn’t necessarily reflect the highly competitive nature of what had occurred up until the last minutes.

Brecon started strongly, with the first scrum of the match seeing the home team pack drive the visitors back some 30 metres in the first few minutes. This set the tone for the first period of the match where they enjoyed significant territorial and possession dominance, yet were unable to transfer this to any early scoreboard gains. A large part of this was due to the resilience of the visiting defence, and the dogged nature of the performance they produced through out the game. Allied to this, the home team were somewhat remiss in taking the chances that did come their way, and it proved to be a frustrating time for the home support and team management alike.

Crymych were able to weather some long periods of pressure, and started to claw back in to the game, making life very difficult for the home team. The scrum was to prove an area that provided opportunities to attack, and relieve pressure, and the use of the front row substitutions meant that there was a revolving strength that pressured the visiting forward group. Additionally, the line out started to function well, with Geraint Powell showing strongly in this area, and also being prominent in all aspects of the game as he put in a good shift that was acknowledged by the sponsors.

The home backline was looking sharp and threatening, and yet had not quite produced the consistency to unlock the Crymych defence, although there was some flowing attacking rugby to appreciate. The efforts were eventually rewarded as some controlled phases of attack, allied to some impressive handling of the dry ball, saw space created for captain Jake Crockett break through for his first try of the game, which was duly converted by Dion Mackintosh.

This proved to be the lone scoring highlight of an otherwise entertaining half of rugby and, as the teams retired for the half time interval, the thinking of the Brecon supporters was that the team had been performing well, with inaccuracies being a key factor, but knowing that if they kept playing at the intensity shown, opportunities would eventually come.

The second half started in a similar vein to the first insomuch as the home team were not readily able to convert chances into scores on the board, and the frustrations felt were added to by a calm performance from the visiting team that saw them continually edge back into the contest. Brecon did add some further scores but there was a period where Crymych immediately fought back after home scores, and took their own chances very clinically. Brecon added a couple more tries to their tally, through the combined efforts of backs and forwards alike, although Crymych kept on adding points through penalty kicks at goal, and were also rewarded for their commitment and patience with a converted try of their own.

As the game moved into the final period, the durability of the visiting team was evidenced by the fact that the scoreboard read 19-13 to the home team, with Brecon one try away from getting a bonus point, and Crymych one try away from taking the lead. This changed relatively quickly in the closing stages of the match, as the home team performance clicked, and they maintained their fitness to be able to finish strongly. This was evident across the board, through the performance of the pack of forwards, with Geraint Powell, Logan Macintosh, Ioan Edwards, and Richie Davies all featuring whilst the fact that wingers Geraint Walsh and Ben Griffin were also prominent in possession indicated the flourishing ‘all court’ game being played. The latter was to feature in one particularly well executed score where, from a scrum on half way, Logan Mackintosh broke and fed Ben on the blindside. From there the winger ran powerfully and took on defenders such that he was able to feed the ball back in side to the supporting Mackintosh to score a fine try.

The variation in the Brecon game was highlighted by the forward superiority being rewarded by two driving maul scores for hookers Rhys Williams and Dewi Edwards, whilst skipper Crockett intercepted an ambitious Crymych pass to race away under the posts, where he also reappeared soon after as he danced through the last line of defence for a hat trick score.

As the players and supporters gathered in the late pm sun for some refreshments, the reflections were on a job that, ultimately was well done, insomuch as a bonus point victory was secured. There was an acknowledgement about the effective and resilient performance from the men from the west, and an appreciation that it took a while to ultimately break down that defence and secure the additional scores needed for the final score to read 38-13.

The focus of all now will be on the final game of the season, away to Ystalyfera, with a view to looking to finish the season in style. Whilst the Championship lead remains mathematically possible, there is a realization that the strong performances in this first season at this level, have secured, at least, second place in the table, and this will lead to promotion to the aforementioned Community Premiership. This will raise the bar again in terms of commitment of all throughout the club but, it is fair to say, that further exciting times lie ahead.