Brecon RFC

63 The Watton
Brecon
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Tel: 01874 624848
Fax: 01874 611719
contact@breconrfc.co.uk

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WRU National League Division 3 South East Saturday 26th December2009

Brecon 9 - Pentyrch 25

A break in the weather provided Brecon with the opportunity of staging just their fourth home match of the season with their last home game having been played a distant 11weeks ago. Pentyrch the Boxing Day opponents had been beaten at their home ground in a close match earlier in the season and with both sides have nineteen league points there was plenty to play for.

For the first twenty minutes it looked as if Brecon were destined to win the encounter by some margin. They dominated possession, territory and created opportunities. The lead of six points from the boot of outside half Dan Edwards hardly reflected the dominance that Brecon achieved during that period and that seemed to be the only worry. The scrum was dominant with the Pentyrch pack regularly being driven backwards. Winger Eurin Morgan looked very dangerous whenever he had possession and while, captain, Andrew Davies was outstanding in both tight and loose where he carried the ball with great power and purpose. Owen Davies off the back of the scrum also made good ground and it surely seemed only a matter of time before Brecon recorded their first try.

They came close. In the left corner they were held up just short. Then they created an opening, which surely would have led to a try, only for the referee to pull them back for and award them a penalty rather than allow their advantage to continue. Then an Eurin Morgan run created a three man overlap, sadly again the referee’s whistle stopped play he, alone, somehow spotted a forward pass.

Pentyrch were not in the game but suddenly the whole complexion of the game turned in one moment. While still on the attack Brecon had an attempted chip ahead charged down. The loose ball was hacked ahead and a score seemed likely as Brecon failed to halt the kick and chase. However, a Pentyrch player got in front of the ball and Brecon were grateful for the let off. However, instead of making the most of their good fortune their game suddenly crumbled.

First they fell fowl of the referee as they lost their discipline. Ten extra yards was lost after a penalty through back chat and that was followed by the sin binning of hooker Alan Taylor. Pentyrch reduced the lead with a penalty.

With Pentyrch now more confident Brecon were forced to work harder and they failed to respond. In the modern game there is much talk about the quality of a sides kicking game and often the side who wins the aerial battle controls the match. Brecon’s kicking game was almost non existent. Time and again they tried to move the ball out of defence or they kicked badly allowing the Pentyrch fullback time and space to counter attack. On two occasions they also failed to find touch when going for a penalty kick to the corner.

One failed attempt to break out of defence again resulted in a penalty and when Pentyrch put their kick into the corner they used their numerical superiority to drive over for a try.

When after half time Brecon restored their lead with another Dan Edwards penalty and Al Taylor rejoined the match there was hope that Brecon would settle into their early match form. Almost immediately disaster struck. Winning the ball against the head from a scrum on their own 22, Owen Davies broke. He made ground with scrum half Rob Price in support. His pass to Rob, who was in open space, was read and intercepted. With only empty space in front of the Pentyrch player a simple try under the posts and successful conversion restored the Pentyrch lead.

At this point, Brecon completely lost their discipline and if they had fallen foul of the referee before then now they completely lost their faith in him and he in them. Two more sin binnings followed. A dropped goal and then a penalty try and conversion sealed Brecon’s fate and left them to ponder on a match which has reflected their season so far. A great and encouraging start followed by very disappointing and worrying demise.