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

SWALEC WRU National League Division 3 South East Saturday 11th September 2010

Brecon 3 - Gwernyfed 31

More than ten years ago Brecon faced Gwernyfed in National league Division 8. Since that time both teams have made progress but only this season have their paths met once again. This was always going to be a special occasion. As both teams had recorded a win in their opening match of the season there was great interest and expectation from both sets of supporters. With a large crowd, a host of sponsors and even the presence of television cameras, recording for Scrum V, the scene was set for a match of great importance for the local rivals.

For the first 20 minutes the match was as expected. Few opportunities were created as both sides tested one another. The score stood a 3 all with Gwernyfed opening their account when outside half Cory Billen neatly bisected the uprights with a drop goal. Brecon replied with a Mike Evans penalty and it seemed that the match would be a very close fought contest.

Suddenly two crutial line outs changed the whole pattern of the game. The first came after Brecon flanker Tom Daley won a turn over and Brecon forced a line out on the Gwernyfed 5 metre line. The opportunity was squandered as a crooked throw into the line out allowed Gwernyfed to relieve the pressure. They quickly found themselves in a similar position but at the other end of the field and they did not waste their chance. Once again it was Brecon’s throw but they failed to secure possession as outstanding flanker George Barden stole possession and the Gwernyfed pack drove over the line for No 8 Richard East to score.

From that point on Gwernyfed started to win the physical battle up from. They pressurised the Brecon scrum and never allowed Brecon to gain any forward momentum around the fringes. In theses forward exchanges George Burden and co-flanker Jon Davies were very influential while Gareth Davies was immense on the loose head of the scrum.

Losing the close exchanges, Brecon needed to change their tactics to try to bring wings Eurin and Owen Morgan into play. When they had the ball Eurin in particular looked very dangerous. The change, however, was easier to talk about than to achieve. Brecon often received the ball on the back foot and with Cory Billen intelligently and effectively keeping the ball in front of his forwards the home side had little time or space.

Then with time running out, at the end of the half, Gwernyfed increased their lead. A mid-field break by centre Gareth Dodd was snuffed out with a great cover tackle from flanker Mark Lewis but the move continued and only a magnificent Eurin Morgan tackle in the corner stopped winger Andy Hill from scoring. With the last move of the half Jon Davies scored from a second powerful line out drive.

If Brecon were to recover then they needed to do it quickly. That never happened as Gwernyfed tightened their grip on the game and Brecon almost seemed to lose heart. Gwernyfed increased their lead with a Gerwyn Williams penalty and then an excellent try. Second Row David Roberts made the initial hard yards and then good support and good hands gave winger Andy Hill room to finish.

When Gerwyn Williams kicked his second penalty the game was almost over, apart from the fact Gwernyfed now scented not just the victory but a bonus point fourth try. That was duly secured when Cory Billen broke through a weak home defence and put Gareth Dodd in the clear. The Williams conversion completed the scoring as Brecon were even denied the consolation of a try when Huw Baldwin lost the ball in the act of scoring.

Brecon’s supporters were stunned by the comprehensiveness of the defeat while for Gwernyfed it was a memorable victory, one that should leave them in high spirits for their home league match against Llanishen. Brecon by contrast have to put the loss behind them and concentrate on what is to come with a difficult visit to Fairwater.