Fixture

For their final match before Christmas Brecon faced a stern challenge in Round 3 of the SWALEC Plate competition. Drawn against Division 1 high flyers, Ystrad Rhondda, Brecon’s only advantage was the fact that the match was played on home territory at Parc de Pugh. While this was a huge challenge Brecon had plenty of motivation. Harbouring ambitions to gain promotion to Division 1 it was important that they found out at first-hand what would face them in 2015/16 if they achieved their goal at the end of the season.

The first thing that they learned was that their opponents were physically strong and powerful from 1 to 15. The next lesson was that their opponents played at a much higher tempo than that to which Brecon are accustomed. Having crossed the gain line they hit the breakdown hard and recycled quickly to players moving forward onto the ball. This way they maintained momentum and kept the defence under severe pressure. They also varied their play intelligently, driving on through the forwards to commit the defence and then spreading it wide when the opportunity presented or kicking into space when the wide option wasn’t on.

The lessons were harsh and for the first 45 minutes Brecon had difficulty coping. By that stage they had conceded 29 points and scored only five in reply. In order to avoid a real drubbing Brecon needed to learn very quickly and to their credit they did. For most of the remainder of the match Brecon took the game to their opponents in spite of the fact that they suffered two significant blows when they lost their two most physical players, Rhys Jones and Andy Nicholl within the first quarter of the match. As a result of this loss Brecon lost scrummage power and for the first time this season had to be content with second best at this phase. However, they adapted and the front row of Jack Herring, Aaron Horne, Josh Williams and Josh Davies deserve credit for the way they stuck to their task and for the energy they showed in the loose.

There was no doubt that Ystrad clearly won the first half but by the same token it was clear that Brecon won the second period in spite of giving away scores at the start and finish of the half. During this second period they showed that although they were under some pressure at first phase they could stretch and break the tight Ystrad defence by moving the ball intelligently, using their pace around the field and not being overawed. If they could have eradicated the unforced errors the end result would have been much closer. On three occasions Gari Davies beautifully landed penalty kicks into touch on the 5 metre line and yet Brecon failed to test the defence as they lost the ball through two overthrows and one crooked throw. A score from one of those opportunities could have put Brecon within three points of their opponents and with the momentum with them anything was possible.

Such a scenario was not foreseeable in the first period of the game. Ystrad dominated and scored early when outside half Rhys Truelove chipped over Brecon’s flat defence. Wing Jarred Llewelyn gathered the bouncing ball and sped away for a try which Truelove converted.

Brecon made sure that Ystrad didn’t run away with things when they scored an opportunist try of their own. A great counter attack by full back Celfyn Davies was carried on by centre Rob Price who broke into the Ystrad 22 where the move broke down. Ystrad won the ball and attempted to move it out of defence. Rob’s tackle dislodged the ball and he hacked ahead. Near the try line the Ystrad defence made a hash of clearing the danger and Rob, Brecon’s man of the match, pounced. Gari Davies just failed to level the scores with the conversion.

Ystrad at this point lost two players to the sin bin and Brecon made their numerical superiority count. They worked their way into the corner and gave themselves a great chance to take the lead only for them to lose control of the ball with the pack driving for the line.

With that opportunity missed Ystrad weathered the reminder of the sin binning period and once returned to full strength hit Brecon hard. Brecon failed to control a line out near their line and Number 8 Liam Davies crossed for a try which Truelove converted. Within minutes Brecon were again under pressure. Ystrad prop Owen Davies showed great mobility during a charging run which set up a scrum on 5 metres. With the Ystrad scrum in control it was no surprise when No 8 Davies claimed his second try.

Within minutes Brecon found themselves further behind. After being driven off the ball at a scrum Neil Walker broke out wide to give Ystrad a very comfortable half time lead.

Brecon needed to re-group at half time in order to avoid an embarrassing defeat. They hardly seemed capable of doing that when they immediately allowed Llewellyn to carve through the middle and put wing David Grafton in for a try. However, they did re-group and gradually began to take the ascendancy. Some powerful runs by Eifion Jones and Rob Price in mid-field threatened the visitors defence and with Gari Davies kicking intelligently Brecon put themselves in a position to compete. A lovely sweeping move brought play deep into the 22 and a try looked a certainty but the defence held firm until Gari Davies looped around Price and scored under the posts making his conversion easy.

The confidence gained from the score was noticeable. Players now seemed to believe that they could challenge on an equal footing and as a result Brecon kept up their assault in Ystrad territory. They gained their reward when Eifion Jones carved through the middle and used supporting players as a distraction, allowing him to crash over. Davies again converted and Brecon were now just 10 points adrift and playing well. Two opportunities to close the gap further were spurned when attacking line outs were overthrown and eventually Ystrad worked their way back into Brecon territory. A huge forward drive could not be stopped and eventually hooker, Carl Facey, put the result beyond any doubt with a try.

Brecon tried hard after that to close the gap again but time was now against them and Ystrad ran out comfortable winners. If Brecon learned one thing in this match it should be that if they have ambitions to progress in their present league and then gain promotion they will have to ensure that they can maintain the intensity they showed for 30 minutes in the second half for the whole of a match and produce that week in and week out.