Fixture

After three Division One league games Brecon are left with no illusions about the task that faces them this season. An easy win in the first match has been followed by two resounding defeats. In those defeats Brecon have had periods of at least matching their opponents if not bettering them. Saturday was no exception when after allowing visitors Rhydyfelin to establish a 32 points to 12 lead Brecon for a time took control of the game, reducing the points difference to just six points with the score standing at 32 points to 26. Bonus points or even a notable victory was a possibility and yet within ten minutes all of those dreams were in tatters.

Analysing why the team is so inconsistent is not too difficult. There are three major areas of concern. The first they have no control over in that their injury list is horrendous. At least six of the squad sat out Saturday’s match and Brecon are desperate to get them back on the field.

The second cause for concern is in some ways related to the first. The team is finding it difficult to match the power and physicality of the opposition. This has something to do with the absence of personnel but that is not the full answer. In the last two games they have given away six tries from driving line outs. Opponents have found it too easy to kick for the corner and to drive over. This weakness has to be resolved if Brecon are to achieve their aim of a mid-table finish.

The final area that has to be addressed is both the most frustrating and perhaps the most difficult to resolve. On Saturday they gifted tries to the opposition either through poor decision making, basic errors or missed tackles. Last season perhaps they got away with these errors and still had enough in their armoury to win. At this higher level opponents do not let teams off so lightly and Brecon certainly are being made to pay for their mistakes.

While those are the negative aspects of the game there are positives. When Brecon moved the ball on Saturday they posed a threat. In a period leading up to half time they stretched the visitors defence in a series of attacks which provided variety and continuity. On that occasion Brecon were held out but during a similar period in the second half they gained the upper hand and were rewarded with two excellent tries.

For Brecon to win games they need to develop what they showed in those periods, shore up their defence, eliminate the errors and be more physically combative. In particular it is important that they make teams work for their scores rather than gifting them points.

The team started brightly enough. They took the lead after a Gari Davies penalty only to fail to take the kick off and then gave away a penalty allowing Rhydyfelin to level the scores.This time they regained the kick off and pressed in the opponents 22 but when the ball was lost in a tackle Rhydyfelin broke out of defence and gained a foothold in Brecon’s 22. From the line out they drove over and scrum half Quirke converted.

It wasn’t long before Brecon were further behind and the score clearly showed the difference between the two sides. Dafydd Thomas made a great tackle as Rhydyfelin attempted to run out of defence. Brecon won a line out inside the opponents 22 and the drive made some inroads but was eventually held. The ball was then moved wide but a knock on ended a promising passage of play. From there Rhydyfelin kicked out of defence up to the half way line. The ball was fielded but an attempted chip over the chasing players was plucked out of the air and wing Jordan Rees ran in for a try from half way.

The next reverse was predictable. Rhydfelin kicked a penalty to the corner, organised their drive well and rumbled over. Brecon responded with a penalty of their own but again failed to take the kick off and gave away a penalty, which led to a lineout in the corner and another drive for a fourth try which was converted.

Brecon’s response was positive. They took the game to Rhydyfelin and with Celfyn Davies and Eifion Jones creating opportunities in mid field they should have come away with more than just a penalty to show for their efforts.

Brecon further reduced the arrears early in the second half with a fourth Gari Davies penalty but immediately gave away a soft try. A long kick downfield should have posed no problem but Brecon failed to gather the ball and wing Rees strolled in for his second try.

Brecon were hurt by this self-inflicted wound and proceeded to produce their best ten minutes period of the whole game. They pressured the opposition with forwards and backs alike carrying and maintaining continuity and width. Celfyn Davies made a break through the centre and Ben Crockett was hauled down short of the line. Rhydyfelin gave away a penalty in their anxiety to slow down ball and Brecon put the ball into touch on 5 metres. The line out drive was held but Craig Davies and Gareth Davies carried at the fringes and drew the defence. When the ball was moved into mid field, Eifion Jones cut a straight line through the defence to score under the posts. Davies converted.

Brecon were visibly lifted by the score and began to take control of the game. Gari Davies made a nice break and with Brecon now maintaining possession and gaining ground second row and Brecon’s man of the match, Gareth Davies, drove over under the posts. Davies again converted and Brecon were back to within a score of their opponents.

What could have been or what might have been was immediately thrown away with woeful defence. Near half way scrum half Fforest Quirke broke left. He drew defenders but with only left wing Simon Thomas outside him the move should have been snuffed out but a poor attempt at a tackle allowed Thomas to stroll in out wide.

That try, left Brecon deflated and vulnerable. Two more tries followed as Brecon’s defence was easily breached and Brecon were left to lick their wounds and prepare for two immensely important games at home to Blaenavon next Saturday and away to Nantyglo after that. Wins in both or one of those matches would lift the squad as injury problems hopefully start to ease.