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

WRU National League Division 3 South East Saturday 19th September 2009

Llanishen 19 - Brecon 12

Although Brecon’s successful squad, of the previous weeks, was disrupted by injury and unavailability, the team travelled to Cardiff with justified hope and expectation. Strength in depth has considerably improved this season and the replacements were all players who could justify their place in the 1st XV. They knew they faced a strong challenge from unbeaten Llanishen but what they couldn’t account for was the spate of injuries they incurred in the early stages of a bruising contest.

Brecon started very brightly and dominated the early stages of a game fought out on a pitch which was bone dry and short of grass, even at this early stage of the season. Justifiably they took the lead with a well worked try. Scrum half Geraint Price broke down the left flank and neatly interchanged passes with hooker, Richard Galea. Captain for the day, Brett Johnson carried the move to the five metre line, where Brecon showed patience and control and eventually the pack drove Galea over the line for a try.

For the next ten minutes Brecon maintained their control on the game and should have gone further ahead had not the final pass let them down. They were quicker to the breakdown than their opponents and when they moved the ball wide they looked threatening.

Within a matter of minutes the game changed. Experienced flanker Johnny Allen and centre Alun Davies both sustained injuries. Then within minutes replacement Eifion Morgan also had to leave the field. Sean Davies a replacement flanker was required to cover on the wing with Eurin Morgan moving in to the centre. The sudden change in personnel at such an early stage had its effect.

Llanishen gained a foothold in Brecon territory and D. Coombs, an accomplished outside half, kicked a penalty to reduce Brecon’s lead.

Brecon at this stage had lost their composure and the successful pattern of the early exchanges. Scrum half; Geraint Price was hampered on the fringes of rucks as Brecon failed to clear the fringing opposition. The pace of their game suffered and this suited the home team.

The final act of the first half saw Llanishen take the lead as Commbs spotted that the Brecon defensive line had pushed up and left no cover. He chipped the advancing line, re-gathered and scored a try which he converted.

After some galvanising words delivered by coaches Gareth Williams and Scott Edwards, Brecon started the second half far more positively. Centre Huw Baldwin made a great tackle on halfway and his opposite number spilled the ball. Eurin Morgan picked up the loose ball and his pace took him clear of all defenders. Rob Jones converted to restore Brecon’s lead.

The game then fell into a period of stalemate with many stoppages for injuries. Players became frustrated and the highlight at this stage was some great defensive work from Brett Johnson, Wyn Davies and Gareth Owens. However, following further disruption caused by the sin binning of Richard Galea and Llanishen second row R. Mort, Brecon once again fell behind to a Coombs penalty.

A third Coombs penalty opened the gap to four points, When Brecon where harshly penalised for taking their advancing maul down to the ground. It was still possible for Brecon to restore their lead as they still looked the most likely side to score a try but they made too many mistakes and as time ticked away, showed signs of panic.

Coombs further punished Brecon with a neat drop goal and with it he collected all of his sides 19 points. With just minutes to go Brecon gave everything to try to earn a draw and although they came close they lacked the accuracy necessary to capitalise on chances which they created.

Disappointing though the result was, Brecon have to console themselves with the losing bonus point and the knowledge that they have the players and the game plan to make this a very successful season. What they need is a good weeks training with a stable squad as they prepared for another away match at Treherbert.

While the 1st XV suffered its first defeat of the new season the 2nd XV earned its third win in as many matches with an impressive 36 points to 12 victory over visitors, Porth.