Fixture

With the Quarter finals of the World cup being played later in the day and with an ever mounting injury list, Brecon travelled to Penarth for their first round SWALEC Plate match with a reshuffled team and accompanied by less than a fist-full of supporters. In spite of the seeming lack of interest this was a challenging match. Brecon, shorn of confidence after a difficult start to life in Division 1, faced Penarth, one of the leading teams in Division 2 and a side which downed Brecon’s colours towards the end of their 2014/15 League winning season. With this as a background there was a distinct possibility that Brecon’s confidence could suffer a further dent should they come away from the seaside town empty-handed. What transpired was a morale boosting victory built on a solid performance.

Brecon started the game well. With their first attacking move of the afternoon they produced a superb score. From a solid base Blake Parata, playing his first game for the club at scrum half, whipped the ball away, drawing outside half Gari Davies onto the pass. He in turn perfectly timed his pass to Eifion Jones who, at pace, cut straight angle. He split the defence, drew the final defender and passed to full back Jake Newman who had an unopposed run in to the line. Gari Davies comfortably converted as he did throughput the afternoon kicking three penalties and three conversions to amass a points’ total of 15 with a 100% goal kicking display.

There was no doubting that the early score lifted the spirit of the team and when the next try followed, almost immediately, the small Brecon contingent, even at this early stage, visibly grew in confidence. The try itself was a question of reacting more quickly than the opposition and taking the chance when it was offered. The play started on halfway with Penarth attempting to move the ball wide. With Brecon’s defensive line up in their faces they spilled the ball. Brecon hacked through and Blake Parata was the first to get to the ball. He hacked on to the line where he gathered and scored.

With two such quick setbacks the Penarth team were visibly rattled but to their credit they then caused Brecon some problems. Aided by a breeze they exerted territorial pressure and were helped by Brecon’s failure to sustain any pressure of their own. Once they were pinned in their half they tried to kick their way out of defence but the kicks didn’t find space and with the chase being slow, the useful Penarth back three were easily able to put their team back on the offensive. Brecon were also not helped by the fact that although Mitch Collacott won great ball at the front of the line but whenever they did get into an attacking position and threw to the back the ball tended to be overthrown and possession was lost.

As a result of these failings Brecon faced a twenty minute period in which they were forced to defend. They defended well but eventually pressure told and Penarth scored a try in the corner off a line out drive. This score brought Penarth back into contention and there were signs that the game could slip from Brecon’s grasp. Fortunately the team responded well. They gained a foothold in home territory and re-gained control. Their reward was a Davies penalty which allowed them to take a 12 point lead into half time.

The half time talk focussed on their need to cut out the aimless kicking and to ensure that when they did kick that the chase was well organised. To their credit Brecon responded to their coach’s words and for the most part dominated the second half. Their domination was aided by a good scrum with the front row of Ryan Harris, Jim Williams and Jack Herring doing a good job in the tight and being prominent in the loose.

Brecon started the second half as they had done the first. An attack down the left flank almost produced a score with a great run by wing Joey Morgan being halted on the line. Brecon, however, were not to be denied and at the following line out Collacott leapt high above everyone and delivered the ball off the top to No 8 Cashel Chilvers who broke around the front of the lineout, crossed the line and scored under the posts.

That score should have put Brecon on the road to an easy victory but a habitual failing re-surfaced at the kick off. Nobody seemed to commit themselves to the catch and possession was surrendered. With possession on Brecon’s 22, Penarth put together a good passage of play and when a tackle was missed they capitalised and scored a try in the corner. The try was beautifully converted from the touchline.

With the lead now just 12 points Brecon needed to reassert their superiority. This they did right from the next kick off. With the scrum going well and Parata prompting the back line Brecon began to take complete control. Good runs from Rob Price and powerful breaks by Chilvers, well supported by Andrew Hosie, should have resulted in tries but Brecon just failed to score in spite of Collacott, Hosie and Darren Witcomb all getting to or near the line. Brecon’s reward for their domination was just two Davies penalties. The fact that they failed to take numerous opportunities will be the main disappointment on an otherwise very successful afternoon. Another plus, possibly was that team manager, Darren Witcomb, forced into duty on the bench, made an excellent cameo appearance in the last quarter returning to the field after almost two years out through injury.

Next week Brecon will hope build on this performance when they travel to Nelson for an important league fixture.