Brecon RFC

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Brecon
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SWALEC WRU National League Division 3 South East Saturday 26th March 2011

Brecon 11 - Llanishen 18

Brecon certainly eyed up this game as one to win if they are to relieve their relegation worries. Llanishen after a poor start to the season have picked up a number of good results in recent weeks although their away for has been anything but spectacular. Strangely the same could be said about Brecon’s home form and so it certainly was a match where anything could happen.

It was a tight affair throughout but by half time Brecon had the upper hand. They looked the more dangerous of the two sides and had built up a lead of 11 points to 3. The scrum was going well with the front row of Richard Galea, Kristian Davies and Martin Jones all doing the grafting work in the scrum and making a big impression in the loose. The backs also looking threatening, with Eifion Jones impressing in midfield following his return from New Zealand and a good win looked to be on the cards.

Sadly the game drifted away from the home side. Rather than consolidate and play the game in opposition territory they decided that they could attack from their own half and ultimately the decision proved costly. Frequently they threatened to break away but the threat never materialised and too often they were brought down and pinned down in their own half.

There was another contributory factor in the defeat and that was two sin binnings which resulted in the team playing 20 critical minutes of the half with only 14 men. During the first period of suspension Llanishen clawed their way back into the game with a well worked try which exploited Brecon’s lack of cover out wide as wing R. Thomas ran in at the corner. The second period saw outside half G Jones levelling the score converting the penalty that accompanied the dismissal.

With just ten minutes to play Brecon were holding out for a draw as Llanishen exerted pressure. They used their heads by keeping the ball tight and making the most of the one man advantage as Brecon struggled to halt their driving maul. Some brave defence provided some hope but that was dashed when G. Jones broke the hearts of the home team and its support as he danced through under the posts to give himself the easiest of conversions an condemn Brecon to a single losing bonus point.

Undoubtedly the Brecon team could not have been faulted for effort or enterprise. At times they looked an effective unit and they created openings but few were taken. The one try they did score was an absolute gem. Having created a number of try scoring situations Brecon were offered a penalty wide out in the Llanishen 22. With the momentum with them they took a brave decision. They opted for a scrum rather than go for goal. Although fairly wide out Dan Edwards had already shown that he had his kicking boots on when he scored Brecon’s first points. He struck the ball beautifully from almost on the half way line. The risk however, was worth taking. The solid scrum provided good ball and Rob Price’s quick pass gave Dan Edwards space. He used the time to delay the pass to Gwyn Pengelly who moved into midfield off his wing. He sucked in the cover and put Ross Parry away to record his 6th try of the season.

With another home game next week against Abercynon, one of the teams still in the mix for a promotion place, Brecon know they have to face a massive challenge. What they have to do is to maintain discipline and make the most of any opportunity they are presented with. It will be interesting to see if they can pull it off.