Fixture

Pentyrch RFC | 1st Team 10 - 32 Brecon RFC | 1st Team
Jake Crockett
3 Try
Jake Mitchell Newman
1 Try
3 Conversion
2 Penalty

Match Report
20 March 2015 / Team News

Pentyrch 10 - Brecon 32

The re-arranged fixture at Pentyrch provided Brecon with the opportunity of enhancing their league title aspirations. They grabbed the opportunity with both hands by gaining a bonus point away victory. The victory now gives them a clear 18 points lead over their nearest rivals, Porth Harlequins. With five more matches to be played, three at home and two away, Brecon need just 9 more points to mathematically ensure that that they are crowned as league champions.

Entering the game the Brecon contingent was aware that the team faced a side anxious to promote themselves away from the relegation zone. Pentyrch entered the game with 31 league points, the same total as Penarth who are placed third from bottom, with three teams earmarked for relegation. In spite of that fact they have caused most teams problems with their attractive running rugby and with their desperate need for points they were not a team to be taken lightly.  

The match territorially was fairly evenly balanced with the home side taking every opportunity to run the ball and yet, until the last five minutes of the game, they failed to register a point. Brecon by contrast were clinical. When opportunities were created, mostly from deep positions, they finished them. Four outstanding tries were scored with moves which started on or near halfway. Centre Eifion Jones was undoubtedly the creator of three of those tries and wing Jake Crockett was the scoring beneficiary twice before he added a brilliant third opportunist try, thus advancing his total for the season to 21. Outside half Jake Newman was the other scorer with a try of his own, three conversions and two penalties to post a total of 17 points.

The early phases of the game were mostly played in Brecon’s half of the field. Pentyrch ran everything and were given the opportunity to do so by Brecon’s kicking which failed to find space. This and the fact that Brecon consistently fell foul of the referee’s interpretation meant that they were kept on the back foot. The defence, however, was solid and there were few major anxieties although at times the scrum creaked and No 8 Craig Davies had to work hard to set up clean ball. Suddenly and against the run of play Brecon took the lead with a beautifully worked try. Full back Celfyn Davies started the counterattack from inside his half. Eifion Jones then made a superb break angling left and carrying the ball to the 22. As the cover came across to close him down he spotted Jake Newman free in mid-field. His cross kick was perfectly weighted and with a favourable bounce Newman had no problem collecting and running in under the posts to give himself the simplest of conversions.

From the kick off Pentyrch again gained a hold in Brecon territory. A blind side break off an advancing scrum looked dangerous until Crockett and Craig Davies put in some important tackles. Brecon were also aided in this period by two great Davey Herdman break-outs off the tail of lineouts. Yet Brecon still failed to seize the territorial initiative as they were continually penalised for a variety of infringements.

In spite of the territorial advantage held by the home side it was Brecon who added to their score. From a scrum on halfway Jake Newman delivered a lovely flat pass to Eifion Jones who hit the line hard and split clean through the flat footed defence. On the 22 he drew the full back and put Crockett away with a simple but perfectly executed pass. Jake Newman missed the conversion, his only failure of the night.

The momentum of the game swung with the score and Brecon took control of proceedings in spite of their continual failure to adhere to the referee’s requirements. Danny Howe, who again had an influential game, stole line out ball and when Brecon won a rare penalty from the ensuing move Newman had no difficulty in adding the three points.

Brecon’s momentum was then halted after Jonathan James was dispatched to the sin bin. The game entered a quiet period as the clock wound down to half time.

Straight from the re-start Brecon increased their lead with a second Newman penalty. A long period of fairly evenly balanced play followed. Pentyrch were always eager to move the ball and at times good defence was needed to hold them out but gradually Brecon gained the upper hand in the scrum and with the line out working well they limited Pentyrch’s supply of the ball. Brecon’s problem with the referee, however, continued unabated. James returned to the fray from the sin bin only to be replaced by second row partner Danny Howe. In spite of this Brecon began to take control of the game. Wing Joey Morgan made a great break in mid-field and Craig Davies was almost put through in the middle of the field. When Newman kicked a penalty to the corner the line out drive took play over the line but Brecon were held up. Brecon continued to impose pressure in the corner and they seemed have scored when Craig Davies dotted the ball down on the line but the referee was unsighted and the try was not given. Eventually Pentyrch lifted the siege and it was from another counterattack that Brecon crossed for their third try. Joey Morgan weaved his way through midfield on halfway and linked with Eifion Jones who again broke. When under pressure on the 22 he managed to slip the ball to Crockett who sped clear for his second score. Newman converted.

Pentyrch responded well and it needed some stern defence to hold the home side out. At this stage Brecon were aided by a now dominant scrum. With Pentych giving away penalties at this phase Brecon cleared their lines and returned to the offensive. It wasn’t long before they increased their lead with a brilliant piece of opportunism. Pentyrch lost the ball wide on their right near halfway. Crockett swept up the ball at pace and left everyone in his wake to round off his hat trick of tries and give his team a bonus point. Newman increased the lead with the conversion.

To their credit Pentyrch were not prepared to just lie down. They drove into the Brecon half re-cycling the ball phase after phase and eventually they were deservedly rewarded when they drove over for a try.

That success lifted the home team and from the kick off returned to the offensive. They moved the ball left then right and then left again where long wide pass outflanked the Brecon defence giving the left wing room to score in the corner.

Effectively this brought the game to an end leaving Brecon satisfied after maintaining their 100% away record with their tenth straight away win of the season. Another away game at Fairwater on 28th March will be eagerly anticipated as the quest to finally claim the title of league champions draws ever closer.

Players
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