Brecon RFC

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WRU National League Division 3 South East Saturday 31st January 2009

Fairwater 7 - Brecon 6

Following a disappointing start to 2009 Brecon desperately needed to get something out of their visit to Fairwater (Cardiff). Having won the corresponding home match in September in a very tight match, Brecon were looking to return to winning ways after two consecutive narrow defeats.

The heavy ground and a strong downfield wind certainly made playing conditions difficult but Brecon started very brightly in spite of the fact that they faced the icy blast. Forwards and backs linked well and a number of openings were created. Scott Edwards carried the ball very effectively off the back of the scrum and with Wyn Davies ruling the line out there was a plentiful supply of ball.

Scrum half Rob Price looked sharp and in the centre James Davenport looked to be regaining his old form after a lengthy lay off. At full back Owen Morgan was solid under the high ball, made a number of great counter attacking runs where he linked well with right wing Eurin Morgan.

It seemed just a matter of time before Brecon would score. Opportunities were created but time and again those opportunities fizzled out as the ball was lost with a poor pass or off loads which were never on. Brecon certainly were not patient enough looking for the miracle pass rather than taking the ball to ground resetting and maintaining continuity through another phase.

They were also hampered by the referee whose interpretation of the ruck caused Brecon huge problems. While they were penalised over and over again their opponents were deemed not to have infringed until the last play before half time.

By that time they had conceded a converted try on the one occasion in which Fairwater exerted any pressure in the visitors 22. A series of pick and drives were dealt with effectively but when Fairwater elected to spin the ball a little wider and brought their hooker onto the ball at pace in mid-field the defence was split and he made the conversion easy as he strolled under the posts.

The seven point deficit was disappointing but with the wind advantage in the second half, Brecon’s supporters were confident that they could earn a win. However, anxiety set in almost immediately. Prop, Dale Williams and second row Gethin Thomas made a great break on half way. Having got behind the defence they were in a good position if they could win quick ball from the ruck. Instead they were penalised for going “over the top”. Fairwater kicked to touch in the Brecon 22 and there Brecon became bogged down.

With the wind at their backs, time and again the spurned opportunities to clear their lines with a long kick downfield. The longer they were pinned down the more anxious Brecon became. When they did eventually break out it began to look as if at last they could create a score. Rob Price made a good break carrying the ball to the Fairwater 22. At the ruck thy won a penalty and Dan Edwards reduced the lead to just four points with his penalty kick.

Still with twenty minutes remaining Brecon were now well placed to take the lead. Scott Edwards and captain, Andrew Davies made good breaks and then James Davenport weaved his way past a number of would be tacklers but once again all the good build up work lead to nothing as the ball was spilled or off loaded to players in no position to receive. However, they did earn another penalty and Dan Edwards reduced the deficit to just one point.

Everyone anticipated that the final ten minutes would be played with Brecon pressing for their winning score. Yet once again they got pinned back, first by giving away even more penalties in a count which favoured the home team by 24 to 6, and then by their inability to clear their lines.

The final whistle brought disappointment at the result and the manner in which the games was lost.