Fixture

Brecon RFC | 1st Team 36 - 10 Senghenydd RFC | 1st Team
Jake Mitchell Newman
Try 2
Jake Crockett
Try 1
Dean Gunter
Conversion 2
Penalty 4
Dafydd Thomas
Try 1

Match Report
22 November 2015 / Team News

Brecon 36 - Senghenydd 10

With almost half of the season gone Brecon took a huge step towards their goal of surviving in Division 1 following promotion last year. It has become clear that if that goal is to be achieved then they must win their matches against teams in the lower quarter of the table. Saturday provided them with the opportunity of doing just that. Their opponents, Senghenydd, started the season well with three wins from their first four matches but that form has deserted them of late and prior to Saturday’s match they had slumped to eighth place in the table, two places above Brecon and two points ahead. This, therefore, was an important game for both sides and one that Brecon in particular, could not afford to lose.

With this as the background both teams were relieved to find that the wind and rain of recent days had relented to be replaced by calm cold conditions. Although the ground was still greasy underfoot both sides were able and willing to play with width and this led to an entertaining game.

The early exchanges had a huge bearing on the outcome of the game. Senghenydd immediately gained a foothold in Brecon territory. They used the ball well by moving it wide at every opportunity and off-loading successfully, thus maintaining continuity and pressure. They looked sharp and confident and Brecon were forced to defend. So often this season, when faced with such pressure, they have succumbed but on Saturday it was a different story. Although stretched the defence was not breached even when Senghenydd attempted a drive from a line out on the Brecon 5 metre line. This play has caused Brecon grief on so many occasions this season but on Saturday they brought the ball carrier down before the maul was formed and halted any further attempt to drive over the line. Finally Brecon won a scrum and the front row of Gareth Owens, Elgan Lewis and Ryan Harris made a massive contribution by holding firm and allowing their half backs Deri Williams and Dean Gunter to clear. From there Brecon broke away, worked themselves into the game and set up the platform to register a notable bonus point victory.

Had Brecon succumbed in those opening exchanges the result could have been quite different. As it was Brecon grew in confidence as the game proceeded and by the final whistle they had scored their fourth try and elevated themselves into eighth place in the league.

Every member of the team made a big contribution but certain individuals played a vital role in achieving success. The half backs, Deri Williams and Dean Gunter controlled the game well. Gunter, on permit from Merthyr, emphasised his class while playing with an unfamiliar team. He had time on the ball and kicked and distributed beautifully, identifying the right time to use the hands or the boot. His first half goal kicking was also immaculate. Two penalties in the first quarter gave Brecon the lead and he then converted Brecon’s first two tries, from wide out, on either side of half time and added two more penalties to give him a match total of 16 points.

In the pack Davey Herdman and Danny Howe were outstanding. Both carried powerfully, worked hard in defence and were prominent throughout. While, as individuals they stood out, it was the pack as a unit that showed the greatest improvement on earlier performances. The pack has been becoming more competitive of late but on Saturday it was far tighter than and was well led by Number 8 Dafydd Thomas. In addition to the solidity at the scrum, Andrew Hosie dominated the line out and Mitch Collacott did a lot of unselfish hard graft. As the game progressed the pack took control and when, late in the second half,  a driving line out just failed to win a try for Brecon, they were not to be denied and drove the next scrum over the line for Dafydd Thomas to claim the bonus point winning try.

As the pack became more and more effective so the quality of possession improved and with ball in hand the backs gained in confidence. Where in the early stages of the game Brecon looked anxious and tried to rush things the talented set of backs settled down and started to take their chances which earlier in the game had been squandered. Jake Newman at full back added a brace of tries to take his total for the season to seven. His first came from a neat chip ahead over a flat defence and, not for the first time this season, he controlled the rolling ball well and scored in the corner. His second came from a piece of quick thinking. Gathering a ball which went into touch on half-way the throw in was taken quickly and Jake was put in the clear. He ran hard for the line and got there before the cover could take him down.

Another welcome name on the score sheet was Jake Crockett. Having been injured in the first game of the season it was pleasing to welcome him back and it was also pleasing to see him score. In that score he showed what Brecon have missed. The wing made a great tackle which led to a turnover and then he popped up in mid-field, chipped the defence and won the race to the line.

While the two Jakes were the backs who got their names on the score sheet the contribution of the other backs should be noted. Wing Joey Morgan was full of running and caused numerous problems for the Senghenydd defence. Rob Price and Eifion Morgan showed what a good centre pairing they are. They closed down their lively mid-field opponents in defence and were a potent attacking force, cutting good angles and linking well.

Now after a morale boosting victory Brecon need at least one more win from the remaining two matches of the year. Next Saturday they travel to Brynmawr and then on 5th December they have a scheduled match at the home of bottom placed Blackwood. A minimum of five points from these games is a must if the momentum earned on Saturday is to be maintained and if the spectre of relegation is to the eased by the start of the new year.

Players
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