Fixture

Llangenech RFC v Brecon RFC 

Saturday 9 September

On a glorious September afternoon, one of the hottest days of the year, with temperatures almost too hot for cricket let alone rugby both sides put on a fine display of attacking rugby for a large crowd in Llangennech.  It was the visitors who notched up their second bonus point win of the season to move them into second position in the League behind Narbeth.

Brecon played up the slope in the first 40 minutes.  From the kick off Brecon quickly learned how competitive the Llangennech side would be. After securing the kick off the home side were quick at the breakdown and turned the ball over.  The opposition lineout and scrum also put the visitors under pressure in the opening exchanges.  With the early possession Llangenech enjoyed they showed a willingness to move the ball wide early which they did accurately and at pace, but the visitors defence held firm.  The home side clearly had the upper hand in the early exchanges at the breakdown and early set piece.  Despite being on the back foot at a scrum in their own 22 a strong carry from Kristian Dacey got the visitors out of trouble and allowed Olly Lewis to feed Jake Crockett who kicked long to relieve pressure.

It was on the 10-minute mark where the stalemate was broken.  Brecon had put together some good phase play and began to win some quick ball and worked their way into opposition territory and the home side infringed at the tackle area and Brecon were awarded a straightforward penalty. Jake Newman kicked the penalty to give the visitors the lead 0-3.

The restart was not secured, and the ball bounced into touch.  The home team pressurised the visitor’s lineout and pinched the ball. The home team tried moving the ball through their backs but one of the passes went to ground and was hacked forward by Jake Crockett the ball popped up invitingly for him to gather and run in unopposed to score under the posts.  Jake Newman converted and within the space of two minutes the visitors had opened a 10-point lead.

Brecon were guilty of giving away several soft penalties in the first half and gifted the opposition possession which they often kicked deep to touch putting the visitors under pressure. It was from a penalty for offside that the home side scored their first points.  They kicked the penalty to touch deep into the 22 and from the resulting lineout they secured the ball and rather than drive the ball it was cleverly popped to a runner who ran over in the 5m channel unopposed to score their first try which was unconverted.  After 15 minutes the score was 5-10.

From the ensuing restart Alwyn Lee secured the ball and following strong carries from him and Kristian Dacey with quick ball from both phases from Geraint Workman lead to a short pass to Ollie Lewis who ran a perfect straight line and split the home defence and off loaded to supporting Jake Crockett.  He ran under the post unopposed to score his and Brecon’s second try.  The score after 17 minutes was 5-17 at which point the referee allowed the first water break of the day.

Brecon failed to secure the restart and knocked the ball on.  The following scrum saw the home side drive the visitors back and a penalty was awarded.  The penalty was kicked to the corner and the initial drive was halted but a second penalty for a further offence was awarded.  The home team ran the ball and after a series of close drives that the visitors defended well the ball was moved wider and a try scored.  The conversion was unsuccessful, and the score after 25 minutes was 10-17

The kick off was well secured by the home team but Brecon had the home team under pressure in their 22, the home team chose to box kick and regathered the ball and then the visitors were penalised for hands in the ruck.  This frustratingly provided an easy escape from the home team who again kicked the penalty to touch deep in Brecon territory.

The ensuing lineout was not straight and from the resulting scrum Brecon launched an attack from deep in their own 22.  Brecon moved ball wide and an early pass to Sam Jones on halfway saw him turn his opposition winger inside and then beat him for pace on the outside and run in from halfway to score an outstanding individual try. The try was converted by Jake Newman and the score was 10-24 after 30 minutes. 

Geraint Workman continued his good start to the season and varied his game well.  He kicked intelligently putting the opposition under pressure with his box kicking. The first substitutions of the day saw changes in the front row with Sam May and Aneurin James to come onto the field to replace Owain James, making his first senior appearance, and Jonny Bowen.

After a series of phases Brecon again gave away a penalty for an infringement at the breakdown and were marched back 10 m.  The resulting penalty was kicked into the Brecon 22 and the visitors had once again given up easy territory to the home side.

In the period just before halftime the Brecon forward pack started to gain ascendency in the scrum and at a defensive scrum in front of their own posts, they drove the home scrum back and almost turned over the ball.  It popped out on the Llangennech side, and they moved it wide to their winger who scrambled over in the corner for a try.  The conversion was missed and with a few minutes to half time the score was 15-24

Straight from the restart Krystian Dacey won a penalty for Brecon on the home 22 in front of the posts which Jake Newman kicked to make the score 15-27.

With the first half coming to an end Brecon created two further try scoring opportunities in either corner but were unable to finish either chance off.   The half time score was 15-27

To summarise the first half, you would have to say that Llangennech established early dominance at the break down and set piece and controlled possession better in the early exchanges. The Brecon forward pack begun to achieve parity and put pressure on the home side towards the end of the first half.  The Brecon backs proved to be the difference in the first half scoring 3 good tries and creating further opportunities that were not taken.

The second half saw Brecon playing down the slope.  The early exchanges in the second half saw neither side adding to the half time score.  The home side came the closest after another penalty was kicked to touch close to the visitors line an after a good lineout move, they crossed the line only for the referee to have judged a double movement in the act of scoring.

After frantic phase of play on the Brecon 22 the visitors secured the ball and cleared the ball down field.  A good chase by Sam Jones forced a knock on in the home 22 and a provided a good attacking position for Brecon.

The scrum was reset several times and slowed the momentum of the game down and gave both sides the opportunity for a breather.  When the scrum was completed, it was the visitors who had the upper hand and provided the platform for the backs to attack.  A number of dummy runners held the defence in tight and a well-timed wide pass was gathered by Ben Griffin who crossed in the corner to score Brecon’s fourth and bonus point try.  The conversion was missed and after 14 minutes of the second half the score was 15-32

Soon after the try the home side were reduced to 14 men when their scrum half was sent to the sin bin.  This spurred the home side on even when they were a man down the crafted another try from a cross field kick which the home winger gathered and evaded the Brecon defence to score close to the post making the conversion a formality.  The score after 23 minutes of the second half was 22-32.

During the second half after a fine controlling and kicking performance Jake Newman was replaced by Dion McIntosh at outside half.

Ollie Lewis continued to run good angles and pierce the home defence and ensure Brecon were on the front foot helping the visiting side to get out of their own territory on numerous occasions.  Alwyn Lee and Ben Pritchard both put in solid performances in the second row.

Brecon’s final try of the afternoon came after some good work in mid field from Jake Crockett who beat a defender with an inside step and passed to Sam Jones who sprinted in and beat the cover from 30 yards to score in the corner.  The conversion was missed and with game entering the last 15 minutes the score was 22-37

With ten minutes left to play the bench was emptied and after fine displays from Matthew Williams in the back row and Sam Jones on the wing they were replaced by Iwan Havard and Sam Hellard. 

Llangennech continued to play and were rewarded with the final try of the afternoon which brought the score to 37-29 with a few minutes to play.

Brecon had one final penalty which was kicked by Dion McIntosh to make the final score 29-40

Brecon will be happy with a bonus point win away from home at a side of the calibre of Llangennech.  The coaching team will also be happy that with a number of new faces in the starting squad this week did not diminish the quality of play and attitude which was maintained right throughout the game.  The coaching team will however be slightlyfrustrated with number of penalties they gave away allowing Llangennech the opportunity to get themselves out of trouble deep in their own territory and in particular the penalties given away which provided the opportunity to kick to touch in the Brecon 22 and put the visitors under pressure.

This was a great game of rugby between two excellent sides in difficult conditions for players which is a fantastic advert for the Championship West.

Next week Brecon look forward to a local derby as Ystalyfera travel the short distance up the Swansea Valley to Brecon.  We look forward to welcoming you all to Parc De Pugh next weekend.

Try scorers

Jake Crockett 2

Sam Jones 2

Ben Griffin 1

Pens

Jake Newman 2

Dion McIntosh 1

Cons

Jake Newman 3