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Club
Newsletters
BRECON
RFC NEWSLETTER November 2009
Senior Teams
We got off to a great start to the season. Pre-season training went well
with good numbers turning out. New coaches Scott Edwards and Gareth Williams
settled in quickly and by the time the season started we were looking
good. We opened the season with a very exciting win at Pentyrch and followed
that up with a crushing defeat of Llandaff. In our next away game at
Llanishen we started very well until injuries hit. Three players were
taken off at with serious injuries mid way through the first half. We
lost that game but bounced back to gain a great win at Treherbert but
again we suffered the loss of influential player, Brett Johnson. Since
that match we have struggled to record a win and continued to pick up
injuries. In three matches we have been in a position to win while leading
and having the elements in our favour but we have failed to hold on.
With a little more composure and control we could now be challenging
at the top of the table.
On the plus side has been the number of young players who have made
their mark at senior level. At times we have fielded what must be one
of the youngest senior sides to represent Brecon RFC. We have seen the
likes of Seb Evans making the transition from a regular second XV player
to becoming a fixture in the 1st XV. Martyn Jones has done the same with
what can only be described as an outstanding season to date. Sadly on
Saturday at Penarth he became our latest injury victim. We have also
seen some players in outstanding form. Eurin Morgan is all class on the
wing while Huw Baldwin in the centre and Owen Morgan have put in some
great performances and Rob Price has shown great versatility for a young
player in his unaccustomed role at full back. Wyn Davies has also made
a big impression in the unaccustomed role of open side flanker. Other
players to show up well are second row Alex Dalton, who has joined us
this season from Cefn Coed and young prop Jack Herring, both of whom
have played some part in every game to date.
While the youngsters have played a big role in the season so far, two
of the more senior members of the side have also played a big part. Gareth
Owens has been a permanent fixture at pop while Paul Williams, reverting
to his scrum half role and taking over the acting captaincy, has been
hugely influential in most of the games.
The increased numbers in training and the greater commitment shown by
players has been greatly beneficial to the 2nd XV. They have had an outstanding
start to the season with their only defeat to date coming last Saturday
at home to Dowlais. The mounting injury toll is now having an effect
and for once the break for the Autumn Internationals could prove helpful
in allowing players to regain their fitness to play.
Youth
Coaches Tony Price and Brian Pritchard have had their work cut out in
pulling together a very young youth squad. After a great win against
Abergavenny the side has been hard pressed but shown great resilience
in all their matches. To add to their difficulties they too have suffered
with injuries and it is to be hoped that they can quickly be resolved
so that the team can move forward.
Honours
While it is still early season, Brecon players have already started to
make their mark. Andy Powell of course has been again selected for
the Wales Autumn International Squad and we all hope that he makes
as big an impact as he made last season when he first entered the International
arena.
Sam Hobbs continues his progress towards the highest reaches of Welsh
rugby. While a regular with Pontypridd he has made his Heineken Cup debut
with the Blues in their home win against Harlequins. Hopefully we will
see more of him on our T.V. screens as the season progresses.
Lewis Smout has had a remarkable start to the season. As a seventeen
year old he has turned out for our seniors, Pontypridd and has played
for East Wales against the West in a Wales under 20’s trial. Should
he make his way into the Wales squad it would be a remarkable achievement
for so young a prop.
Darran Harris and
Alwyn Lee are continuing to make progress with the Blues and will be
hoping that
this year they can follow up on last year’s
National success with selection to the Wales Under 18 team.
Juniors
Our Juniors have had a good start to the season. Perhaps the outstanding
teams to date have been the under 13’s and under 15’s.
They have won most of their matches and are playing attractive rugby.
The under 12’s have also been outstanding in the games they have
played but they have been unfortunate in that they are a victim of
their own previous success with too many teams are calling off fixtures
with them. Hopefully as other sides adjust to the demands of 15 a side
rugby they will start to provide our under 12’s with regular
opposition.
Minis
All our Mini teams are enjoying huge success. The reports and results
on the website are a joy to read ( www.breconrfc.co.uk ). To date our
Mini’s have played 27 matches with only two defeats and one draw
recorded against us. Many of the teams remain unbeaten and their quality
of play and sportsmanship is a tribute to the loyal band of helpers,
supporters and coaches who attend to their needs.
Lottery
The lottery draw continues every Friday. To date we have banked over £5,000
into the Club’s Development Fund. The Prize Total now stands at £5250
and the investment of just £1 could bring a great return. The
club would like to thank all those who regularly contribute and encourage
those who don’t to start to support this worthwhile effort. If
we can increase our sales then together with Donations and Vice Presidents’ Subscriptions
we could get close to banking £20,000 by the end of the year. By
that time we should have the result of our application for grant Aid
from the WRU. If we are successful then by this time next year we should
have floodlighting on Parc de Pugh.
Advance
Notice – End
of Season Awards Evenings
This year, the traditional end of season Awards’ Evening, will
take on a completely different form. The date set aside for the evening
is Friday 28th May. Don Howe and a group of helpers are
in the process of booking a marquee, to be sited at Parc de Pugh for
the Bank Holiday
Weekend, and the catering. Players, members and partners are invited
to this Black Tie event where entertainment will be
provided by a Comedian
and Live Band. The cost of tickets can only be estimated at
present but it is likely to be in the range of £45. Players have
already started to save on a weekly basis for the event and so support
from the playing
section of the club is guaranteed. We hope that the event will
be supported by the whole of the club.
To make full use
of the marquee we will be offering the facilities to outside groups
for Saturday while
Sunday 20th May has been set aside
for its use as the venue for our Mini and Junior Awards’ Evening.
Autumn International Tickets
The Club has a number of tickets which it must sell for the following
Internationals:-
Wales
v Argentina _ Wales v Australia
21st November _______28th November
The club is offering one free ticket for a junior/mini member with each
adult ticket purchased for the Wales v Argentina International
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets for the above match should contact
the club or Peter Owens (01874 624381 or 07967698213)
Ron Rowsell
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