Fixture

As the league season reaches the end of its first quarter, Brecon are embroiled in the middle of a series of critical matches. Last week they maintained their 100% record by defeating third placed St Peters. This Saturday they confronted another testing challenge when they travelled to Porth at the gateway to the Rhondda Valleys. The previous week Porth had leap-frogged St Peters following their win over second placed Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd. With a record of just one defeat in their five league matches Porth were obviously going to present a severe challenge, particularly on their own patch and with a very good win under their belts.

Fortunately in spite of the recent rain the ground was firm and playing conditions were good. From the outset the match was obviously going to be one of contrasting styles. In the early exchanges it was clear that Brecon wanted to play a predominately expansive game. They were confident and prepared to move the ball into space even when in defence. The home side were more forward orientated. They looked to gain territory and then to drive hard with both forwards and backs combining to hit the gain line and get behind the defence. They also employed a very effective line out and well organised driving maul and quickly showed that they would be a handful if they managed to play the game deep in Brecon territory.

Initially Brecon emerged as the more effective of the two sides. Their width stretched their opponents and caused them some anxiety particularly when the width was added to the game following some effective forward drives, with Jonathan James featuring regularly. Brecon did, however, also cause their own supporters some anxiety when their ambition in running out of defence sometimes put them in difficult positions. Fortunately whenever that happened their scrum came to the rescue. Against a big pack Brecon showed great technical ability and the front row of Andrew Nicholl, Aaron Horne and Ryan Harris created huge problems for their opponents, so much so, that even in the early stages Porth opted for line outs rather than scrums whenever that was an option. With this weapon in the armoury and their ambitious approach Brecon, in the first quarter, looked the more likely to open their account.

That impression was confirmed when Brecon opened with a great try. After a missed penalty and a number of promising attacks Brecon earned an attacking line out. Dafydd Thomas delivered great off the top ball and the ball was moved into midfield. Eifion Jones was quick to spot a gap. He cut through it and then cut the remaining defence apart to score a great solo try under the posts. Gari Davies extended the lead.

At this stage it looked as if Brecon could build on this early advantage but that was to ignore the resilience of the home team. When they gained a foothold deep in Brecon territory they showed why they have had a successful season to date. Backs and forwards drove hard, maintained possession and pressure on the Brecon defence. That defence was, for a time, effective but it was only for a time. Porth drove to the line from a line out and when the maul was brought down took a quick tap and the pack drove over in the corner.

Having gained success in this way Porth again capitalised on a mistake to gain territory. Once there their tried and tested pattern of play was quickly employed successfully once again. In almost a carbon copy phase, Porth crossed the line in the same corner and this time outside half A. Clement converted from the touch line.

Now with the momentum in their favour Porth looked to capitalise even further. When Brecon spurned opportunities of their own with a missed penalty and a crooked throw at a 5 metre line out Porth sensed that they had the capability of pulling off a great victory. So easily, at this point, the game could have slipped away from Brecon. It was a time for leadership and while captain Dan Edwards effectively marshalled his troops it was flanker Davey Herdman who was the inspiration. He cleaned up around the fringes, tackled, carried and handled the ball beautifully. Gradually the tide of Blue sweeping down the slope towards the left corner was stemmed and as the half drew to a close Brecon returned to the offensive with great effect. Both wings Richie Elliot and Jake Crockett made a number of good attacking runs but Brecon failed to score until the last minute before half time.It was worth waiting for.

Some 35 metres out Gari Davies, who had played mainly as a controller and distributer at outside half, suddenly spotted that the defence was pushing wide. He cut through the gap and into the 22. His pass to supporting Eifion Jones created space and the final pass to full back Jake Newman was timed to perfection. Jake’s try was brilliantly converted by Davies to give Brecon the lead.

The second half started well for Brecon with Gari Davies extending the lead with a neat drop goal. Porth tried hard to reduce the arrears but Brecon for the most part remained in control apart from when, near the mid-point of the half, Porth broke away. Wing E Griffiths was put away and it appeared that he must score in the corner to draw the sides’ level. Jake Newman had other ideas. As Griffiths took off in a dive for the corner, Newman drove him into touch with an outstanding try saving tackle.

That setback rocked the home team and Brecon moved ahead. From a scrum 5 metres short of the Porth line Brecon drove and hard working number 8, Craig Davies, scored and his namesake Gari converted to give Brecon a winning lead.

Porth typically fought to the end employing their effective line out to good effect but Brecon held on to deny the home side a bonus and to earn a great victory. Next week there is a let up from league action as Brecon face St Josephs at Parc de Pugh in the WRU Plate competition before facing close rivals, Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd also at home on 1^st November prior to the Autumn International period.