Fixture

If Brecon thought they would ease their way into the Christmas Period with a comfortable run out in the SWALEC Plate they were quickly brought back to earth with a resounding bump. They knew their opponents well as for a large part of last season they challenged one another at the top of Division 2. Brecon won two out of the three encounters in that season. All three of the matches were entertaining and some great tries were scored. This time some great tries were scored by CRCC and for their supporters the game was entertaining but for Brecon this was nothing other than a nightmare.

That nightmare began in the first minute of their match played at a blustery Cardiff Arms Park. Playing into a strong wind Brecon gathered the kick off, moved forward into a ruck and delivered the ball for what should have been a relieving kick. To the dismay of the Brecon contingent the kick was charged down and the ball bounced kindly for the CRCC right wing to gather and score.

That was a set-back but not a major game defining moment, however, what followed was both hard to believe and hard to take for the loyal Brecon support. The kick off went straight into touch and at the restart scrum on half way the Brecon pack seemed to have the upper hand. The referee’s interpretation, however, was somewhat different as he adjudged that Brecon had illegally driven upwards and inwards at the scrum and he gave a penalty. CRCC outside half, Oliver Jones, easily kicked the penalty from the centre spot and in less than two minutes Brecon were 8 points down.

Worse was to follow. Brecon worked themselves into a good position, won a penalty and opted to go for the corner rather than kick at goal into the gale. The penalty kick never threatened the touch line but crossed the dead ball line instead. CRCC cleared and when Brecon attempted a high kick back the ball came back at them on the wind. A penalty was given away and Jones, to all intents and purposes said, “Thank you very much we’ll take another three points.”

In less than five minutes Brecon were 11 points down. They regrouped and started to make ground with ball in hand but then an interception almost allowed the CRCC left wing to score in the corner. Although that score didn’t come Brecon continued to offer their opponents opportunities. Dropped passes, crooked throws to long line outs in a howling gale and attempted chips out of defence all offered opportunities and eventually CRCC took one. Their second row showed great pace in mid-field and the backs handled crisply and at pace to put their left wing over in the corner for a try which Jones converted from the touch line.

Almost from the kick off CRCC scored again. The kick didn’t go 10 metres then Brecon knocked on when in possession allowing CRCC to gather the ball kick ahead and score in the corner. With 25 minutes gone Brecon were 23 points down and facing total embarrassment against a side struggling in a lower league.

Brecon changed tactics and went for a pick and drive pattern of play. It worked to a point. Davey Herdman, Craig Davies, Richard Galea and Mitch Collacott all drove hard and made ground up to the 5 metre line but there they were held. Eventually they won a penalty and Gari Davies put Brecon on the score board.

Was this to be the start of a revival? Anyone who thought that was quickly silenced as CRCC won the kick off and then Brecon lost a line out near their line allowing their opponents to score. Even worse followed as the mid-field defence was split and CRCC ran in for their fifth try.

Brecon ended the first half battering at the home line but without any success.

Into the second half and with the gale now at their backs Brecon started to climb their Everest. Gari Davies kicked a penalty. Then within minutes Jake Crockett made a nice break in mid-field and put Jake Newman away for a touch down under the posts but in the anxiety to push on with the game the attempted quick conversion failed.

Brecon now again hammered at the opponents’ line. After a series of penalties, scrums and lineouts in the home 22, Davey Herdman finally stretched out to cross the line for a try.

Brecon’s momentum was building and there was just a possibility that they could mount a serious challenge but that all but disappeared when a dropped ball on the opponents’ 10 metre line was hacked up-field and the CRCC wing won the race to score and Jones again converted.

Brecon again fought back and Mitch Collacott who had, to his credit, put in a huge amount of work, drove over and scored. Newman converted the try but by now the game was over but for one final score which summed up Brecon’s day. While chasing the game Brecon still kicked ball away rather than keep it in hand and CRCC capitalised on the possession offered to them when they raced away to score their seventh try against a completely demoralised Brecon XV.