Fixture

This has been a busy and eventful week for Brecon RFC. The week started with a bonus point victory at Fairwater which finally lifted the threat of relegation. Then on Thursday Brecon defeated old rivals Gwernyfed in the semi-final of the Mid District Bowl competition, guaranteeing them the opportunity to defend their title later in May. Finally at the end of the week, tired and sore bodies, battled through to another bonus point victory against resolute opponents, Tylorstown.

Tylorstown arrived in Brecon for their final match of the season knowing that they will be relegated from Division 3. In spite of their lowly position they were a team not to be taken lightly. They have shown in recent matches that they are resilient and pose a threat through a powerful pack and in outside half, A. Clement, a player capable of punishing any team. Brecon were also acutely aware that early in the season they had been one of the few teams to lose to their opponents, a defeat that pushed Brecon to bottom place in the table.

With this as a background Brecon started the game determined to keep their impressive run going in spite of having only 48 hours to recover from the derby match against Gwernyfed. All looked plain sailing as Brecon, playing into a stiff wind, had early chances to register a significant lead. First Gari Davies missed with a penalty attempt. Then outside half, Jake Crockett, carved through the visitors defence drew the full back and delivered what should have been a scoring pass. However, the pass was dropped and Brecon had to settle for three points when Gari Davies put over a penalty.

In spite of the missed chance Brecon looked to be on top in these early exchanges. However, they then proceeded to offer Tylorstown opportunities by a combination of penalties and ill-discipline. At the kick off a penalty was given away and Clement showed that he was an accomplished kicker of the ball. From 45 metres out he slotted the ball through the posts to draw his side level. He then repeated the action to give his side the lead when first Brecon were penalised and then punished a further ten metres for talking back to the referee. The extra distance put the kick in range and Clements boot was unerring. Suddenly Brecon’s game fell apart. They surrendered possession through a string of penalties and when they did have the ball either showed poor handling or decision making. With the wind at their backs and with plenty of possession, Tylorstown dominated territory. Forced to defend Brecon did so bravely and for the most part survived thanks to some outstanding defence in which Davey Herdman and Steve Jackson were prominent. However, they did not emerge unscathed as one penalty too many gave Clement his third kick at goal and he again showed that he would punish his opponents if given the opportunity.

The remainder of the half continued to be a rather scrappy, stop start affair with Brecon distinctly feeling that they had got on the wrong side of the referee. Yet in spite of not being at their best Brecon were turning around with a deficit of just six points after a half when they faced a very stiff breeze.

The wind played a major role in the first significant move of the second half. With the elements at his back, Jake Newman, put in a great kick deep into Tylorstown territory. Tylorstown won the line out and Clement attempted to clear. His kick hung in the wind and Matthew Watkins made a great catch and cut outside his opponent. Just held he popped a one handed pass in to Gwyn Pengelly who repeated the action to put Jake Newman away and clear. His try went unconverted but Brecon had now reduced the lead to a single point.

Immediately from the kick off Brecon surrendered their next penalty and Clement restored a four point advantage for his side. Things seemed to get worse when Berwyn Roderick, who was having a good game in the second row, was dismissed from the field for ten minutes. Although now down to 14 Brecon started to play with more accuracy and purpose. With the ball now being moved and some continuity being achieved both Steve Jackson and Wyn Davies came close to scoring. Then Brecon were brought back for a forward pass in the act of scoring. In spite of these frustrating misses Brecon now kept their focus and eventually the critical try came. As Brecon gained a scrum ten metres from the Tylorstown line so their opponents were also reduced to 14 men. With the scrum on the front foot Tom Daley drove off the back. He was hauled down inches short and the ball was slowed down. When it eventually emerged the defensive line was formed and yet Brecon breached it. The critical play came from Steve Jackson who showed outstanding ball handling ability to take and give a pass under great pressure. The beneficiary was captain Ryan Harris who drove over for his second try of the week.

The slim two point advantage was quickly extended. From a scrum on their ten metre line, Tom Daley broke. From that point on the outstanding back row of Daley, Wyn Davies and Davey Herdman combined to take play deep into opposition territory where Herdman unleashed the killer pass back inside to Gari Davies allowing him to score near the posts and to convert his own try.

Now with some daylight between the teams Brecon went in search of the bonus point. Two yellow cards, one for each side, destroyed continuity for a while but with enough time on the clock Brecon delivered. A short line out allowed Aaron Horne space to make progress around the front and a ten metre scrum was gained. Surprisingly Brecon lost control of the ball at the back and Tylorstown Flanker C Harris broke away. Somehow he was caught by Davey Herdman who then showed great strength to rip the ball out of his opposite numbers hands. The Brecon Man of the Match then drove hard towards the line. Finally 5 metres short he was brought down but delivered the ball. Tom Daley scooped it up and drove through the final tackle to score. The conversion was missed but Brecon claimed the five points and move on to their next match against Pontyclun on Wednesday 30th April.