Fixture

After six weeks without a league game Brecon finally took to the Parc de Pugh pitch for the first time since 21^st November. The long period of inactivity brought about by one of the wettest December and early January on record made the game feel like the start of a new season. As always after such a long lay-off there were doubts about how quickly the team could shake off the rustiness and get back on track. For both Brecon and Nantyglo there was a lot at stake. While Brecon’s form the league, prior to the break, had shown a marked improvement with a points’ haul of ten in their last three league games, they were still far from being safe from the relegation zone. Although now ten points clear of their match day opponents, Nantyglo, they could not afford a costly loss which, could potentially, allow their opponents to narrow that gap to just five. There was some nervousness, therefore, amongst both sets of rival supporters as the teams took to the a pitch which had made a remarkable recovery after the incessant rain of the past two months.  

For the Brecon contingent initial worries were almost immediately dispelled. Within the first two minutes Brecon scored a great team try after claiming the ball at the kick off and going through multiple phases before delivering the ball to wing Mario Nash who was unstoppable and crashed in at the corner. Although the conversion failed it was just the start that Brecon needed.

Strangely, however, although Brecon looked sharp and dangerous and held considerable territorial advantage they failed to capitalise on their great start. A pattern emerged which was to be repeated throughout the match. Having seemingly given themselves an advantage they allowed Nantyglo to get back into the game. It was more puzzling in that the Brecon front row of Gareth Owens, Ryan Harris and Elgan Lewis were winning the scrummage battle and the second row partnership of Ewan Williams and Mitch Collacott won their line out ball cleanly and efficiently. Added to that the back row of Davey Herdman, Dafydd Thomas and Craig Davies carried effectively and challenged their opponents at every breakdown. The combination of these factors should have allowed Brecon to take control of the scoreboard but they let themselves down in other ways. Kicking out of hand was at times disappointing and three penalty attempts sailed wide. In addition Brecon made little mistakes and these proved costly against a side which showed great resilience and an ability to take their chances when given the opportunity.

Much against the general run of play Nantyglo very efficiently managed to take the lead. First they capitalised on a long range penalty to reduce the deficit and then they produced a wonderfully constructed move to give them their second score and the lead. There seemed little threat at first, as a Brecon penalty attempt just sailed past the post. From the restart Brecon gave away a penalty which allowed Nantyglo to throw into a line out on the Brecon ten metre line. A clean catch was followed by a drive of a least 30 metres. When the ball emerged wide on the right the Nantyglo backs did their job brilliantly. The outside half worked a lovely loop around his inside centre and the already stretched Brecon defence was, not for the only time during the afternoon, completely outflanked as Nantyglo’s left wing ran in at the corner.

Brecon responded brilliantly. Gari Davies kicked a penalty to level the scores and almost immediately afterwards Brecon scored a superb try. The move started deep in their own half as full back Jake Newman gathered a kick ahead and completely left the Nantyglo chasers floundering as he burst past them on the outside.  His run took him to within sight of the try line before the cover reached him. When it seemed that a score might be snuffed out scrum half Blake Parata popped up to take the inside-pass and he made the line in spite of the intervention of desperate defenders. The try was just reward for the work that Parata had put in, not just supporting this move but for his all-round play where he showed awareness and commitment throughout the afternoon.

Once again Brecon should have taken a firm hold on the game after regaining the lead. Two penalties were missed and in spite of some great build up play, in which centre Eifion Jones frequently penetrated the visitors defence, Brecon let themselves down by giving away soft penalties at the break-down when in sight of the line and also when they blatantly spurned the chance to finish a lovely move by taking on the defender instead of releasing the free player on the outside.

When the half time whistle came Brecon held a five point lead but it would and should, have been a more comfortable advantage if chances had been taken.

Brecon started the second half as they had done the first. Gari Davies put in a lovely kick to give his side an attacking position and then slotted over a penalty goal as Nantyglo infringed under pressure. They then followed it up with another great long distance try. Near half-way Brecon gave wing Jake Crockett some space on the outside. After having missed so much of the season through injury it was great to see him running fluently and taking on the defence on the outside. Just when it seemed as if he had pulled clear he was brought down as a despairing dive just made contact with his heel and threw him off balance. Re-gaining his feet with the cover streaming across he kept his composure and fed Dafydd Thomas who was supporting on the inside. He brushed the remnants of the defence away and scored a try which Gari Davies converted.

Brecon were now 15 points up and had a wind advantage. The game was there for the taking particularly after the kick off failed to travel 10 metres and Brecon’s dominant scrum was given the put in on half way. A needless free kick for not straight at the put in was given away. The Nantyglo Number 8 took a quick tap and caught Brecon completely off-guard. His charging run was stopped on 5 metres and Brecon gave away a penalty. Nantyglo kicked for the corner, won the line out, set up the drive and sucked in most of Brecon’s defenders. As soon as that happened the ball was spun wide and Brecon’s narrow defence was easily outflanked allowing Nantyglo’s centre to score with two players spare on the outside. With the conversion being successful Nantyglo were suddenly back in the game.

Gari Davies then exchanged penalties with his opposite number as the game entered the final quarter.  With Nantyglo still in touch Brecon needed to finally put their opposition away and to pick up the bonus point try. This they did after Jake Newman put in a wonderful kick into the corner. From the line out Brecon drove but were denied on the line. A second attempt brought its reward as Danny Howe was driven over for a try which Gari Davies converted. That should have been the end to the story but Nantyglo were not finished. They again showed the power of their driving maul as they swept Brecon away to score a converted try.

Brecon’s final ten point advantage with a bonus point try was wholeheartedly welcomed by the large crowd of Brecon’s supporters and sponsors. They now have a 15 point cushion above the two bottom clubs and they must be satisfied with their performance which in parts was brilliant but at other times was understandably rusty.