Brecon RFC

63 The Watton
Brecon
Powys
LD3 7EL

Tel: 01874 624848
Fax: 01874 611719
contact@breconrfc.co.uk

Click map to find us

Click to enlarge

Rhondda and East Glamorgan Premier League Sat 20th Dec 2008

Dowlais 9 - Brecon 7

Brecon seconds travelled to Dowlais for the final pre Christmas match. The weather could hardly be described as festive but at least the pitch was in reasonable condition. The Brecon team was certainly full of surprises with many new combinations and a large number of players out of position particularly at forward. The front row included two hookers, Isaac Greer and Martyn Jones and flanker Howell Morgan. In the second row was centre Chris Wilton while in the back row the flanks were occupied by winger Dyfed Watkins and full back Tim Hale. Captain Sean Davies at No 8 was one of the few players to occupy his regular position and his experience and ability helped to weld the most unlikely combination into some sort of effective unit. He had an outstanding game and almost led his side to a notable victory.

Brecon’s problem was always going to be a lack of possession particularly in the line out where players took over jumping duties after only the briefest introduction to the art. Tim Hale, who was given front jumping duties, soared to heights he had never previously experienced without a safety harness. It was not surprising that he found it difficult to cope with the altitude, the opposition and then the ball. Away from the set piece the team performed well on the whole. The defence was excellent. Dowlais never looked likely to penetrate in the critical final quarter of the field and had to rely totally on the boot of their outside half for all their points. He kicked his penalties very well and his kicking out of hand was accurate.

Although starved of possession for large parts of the first half, Brecon competed well. Players enthusiastically swarmed all over the field. When they did get possession they looked threatening but a lack of accuracy and composure resulted in too many knock on’s or penalty awards with the exception of one sublime moment.

With Dowlais pressing deep in Brecon’s territory, livewire hooker Isaac Greer, intercepted a pass. He broke clear on an impressive 40 metre run. Dowlais had difficulty in overhauling him but gradually as he was run down he showed great composure in drawing the defence before passing to flanker Dyfed Watkins who showed his wingers pace to score under the posts. Daniel Edwards converted and Brecon had a seven point lead.

Dowlais closed the gap with two penalties to trail by a single point at half time. Almost as soon as the half started they took the lead with their third penalty.

From that point on it was just a question of whether Brecon could use the wind advantage and earn a winning score. Whenever they put themselves in a promising position they lost the ball and when they had the opportunity to kick a goal they missed and so the game meandered towards the close.

With the referee calling last play Brecon won a penalty in the middle of the field and on the Dowlais ten metre line. Daniel Edwards lined up the kick with the result resting on its outcome. He struck it well but to the despair of the brave Brecon team it drifted wide. Perhaps they will be rather luckier on Christmas Day when Father Christmas should reward them for the effort they put into the game and their willingness to take on unfamiliar roles.