Brecon RFC

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SWALEC WRU League Division 3 South East Saturday 28th March 2009

St Peter's 31 - Brecon 13

With the Six Nations Championship over it was normal service resumed on the league front. The game at St. Peter’s, Cardiff, was an interesting affair with St. Peter’s and Brecon lying third and fourth respectively with just one point separating the two teams. Brecon were looking for a win to lift them to third place while St. Peter’s wanted to avenge the defeat at Parc de Pugh and maintain their third place. The game, therefore, had all the ingredients of a hard fought and entertaining, encounter. The weather also helped as the pitch was firm and dry and with pleasant sunshine in spite of a cold wind that blew across the pitch favouring neither side.

The home side certainly made good use of the conditions. From the outset their intentions were clear. They hit rucks and mauls hard and then used any clean ball to put width on the game. The pattern was simple, effective and attractive. Brecon found it hard to deal with and immediately were on the back foot. They made a hash of gathering the kick off and yielded possession. St Peter’s used the full width of the field to put right wing Gareth Norman away. He showed great pace on the outside but the cover got to him near the line only for him to slip through the tackle and dot the ball down for a try.

The early set back after a long difficult journey in traffic to the Cardiff Ground seemed to be partly to blame for the poor start and for a while Brecon regrouped and began to be more competitive. Owen Morgan at full back had a great afternoon with ball in hand and he and wing Eurin Morgan were undoubtedly Brecon’s most threatening backs. At forward Wyn Davies again was outstanding in the loose as well as in the line out and captain Andrew Davies was his usual uncompromising self. However, Brecon failed to establish their expected dominance at forward.

With limited clean ball Brecon were rarely composed and from an aimless kick ahead they were caught on the counter. Wing Norman made an easy catch with time and space. For his try he had shown pace and power now he split the onrushing Brecon defence and linked with centre Luke Gaffney who had a stroll to the posts. Steve Ireland converted.

Brecon managed to get on the score board after a great kick out of defence by No 8 Ewan Williams. They won a penalty on the home 22 and Dan Edwards neatly converted.

Brecon hardly had any time to celebrate when they were hit buy another sucker punch. So concerned were the team with the width that St. Peter’s were putting on the game that they left the fringe of a ruck completely unguarded and centre Michael Butler stole through a yawning gap for a try which Ireland converted.

Brecon reduced the arrears with another Dan Edwards penalty before St. Peter’s claimed their fourth bonus point try with simple pace and swift accurate handling from a line out on the right to allow Gaffney to score his second try wide on the left.

The half time team talk must have had some effect on the Brecon team as they started the second half with far more vigour. Prop Richard Galea made good ground on a number of charging runs and fellow prop Gareth Owens came close to a score. Eventually Brecon pressure was rewarded when Ewan Williams claimed a good ball at the tail of a line out and from the drive Galea crossed for a try which Edwards converted.

Now only nine points behind, after being under the cosh for most of the first half, it looked as if Brecon could mount a challenge. Such thoughts were quickly dispelled as St. Peter’s killed off the game with three unanswered penalties through replacement No 10 Nick Kelly.

Undoubtedly Brecon made a better game of it during the second half which they lost by just nine points to seven whilst scoring the only try but it was too little and too late after having been blitzed in the first half. Perhaps after this wake up call they can return to produce a much more effective 80 minutes against Tylorstown at Parc de Pugh next Saturday, particularly with Sky TV in attendance.