Brecon RFC

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Senior Match Reports

SWALEC WRU National League Division 3 South East - Saturday 20th February 2010

Brecon 8 - Aberdare 5

Brecon faced a tough challenge as they encountered fourth placed Aberdare with a side weakened through injury and unavailability. To add to their plight they lost centre Rob Price within the first ten minutes and later in the game hooker, Martyn Jones, both sustaining shoulder injuries. With Aberdare fielding a big, strong pack it was obvious from the first scrum that the young Brecon eight were up against it. As the game progressed so the Brecon scrum came under more and more pressure and the point was reached where Aberdare regularly drove Brecon off their own ball. Shorn of such vital possession Brecon spent a lot of time on the back foot and it seemed that eventually their failure to gain parity in the scrum would cost them the game.

Amazingly they compensated. First with a great defensive effort in which captain and scrum half Paul Williams and his back row of Ceri Morgan, Wyn Davies and Tom Daley were outstanding: then with a lineout which functioned efficiently and pressurised their taller opponents and finally with their ability to play the game sensibly and take their chances.

Brecon started the game well, with Eurin Morgan in mid-field looking particularly dangerous. In spite of an early missed penalty attempt the home side were the first to score. Outside half Jared Rees made a great tackle and turned the ball over. Hooker Martyn Jones initially made good ground before second row partners, Scott Edwards and Alex Dalton, carried the move forward only to be halted by a high tackle which allowed full back Gary Davies to kick Brecon into a three point lead.

That lead hardly seemed enough as Aberdare began to dominate possession and territory. Eventually the inevitable happened. From an advancing scrum some five metres from the home line, impressive Aberdare No 8 Dai Scarfe broke to score a try giving visitors a two point lead.

For the remainder of the half the game was evenly balanced with neither side looking as if they would score apart from on one occasion. Jared Rees, in his one blemish of an otherwise excellent afternoon of prompting and controlling the Brecon backline, had his attacking kick charged down. Aberdare re-gathered the loose ball and but for a great smother tackle by Paul Williams would surely have scored.

The early exchanges of the second half followed much the same pattern as the first. With a lack of ball Brecon continued to show great spirit and a resolute defence. A great relieving kick by full back Gary Davies earned Brecon a good attacking position and they made the most of the opportunity. Possession from a stolen line out allowed Eurin Morgan some space in mid-field. He chipped over the advancing defensive line and re-gathered. He linked back inside to Jared Rees who read the situation beautifully. He swung out a long pass to replacement hooker Alan Taylor. Alan took the ball off a bounce, left the covering winger and crossed for an excellent try.

The three point lead hardly seemed sufficient but Brecon grew in strength as the Aberdare effort began to fade. Another score seemed likely when from a line out the forward drive carried them to within a metre of the try line. From a scrum 5 metres out they should have had every chance to score but again the scrum failed to hold and they lost the ball and the opportunity.

With such a slender lead and relying on so many young players, Brecon showed great maturity and composure in the closing phases of the game. They never gave Aberdare any real chance of a match winning opportunity. Great credit must be given to the whole team for their character and determination with particular praise being reserved for young debutant wingers Stuart Slough and Eifion Jones for their contribution to this hard earned and important win.

Next Saturday Brecon face third placed Tylorstown at Parc de Pugh in what promises to be another entertaining and close encounter.