Fixture

Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd RFC | 1st Team 32 - 34 Brecon RFC | 1st Team
Robert William Price
1 Try
Eifion Jones
1 Try
Jake Crockett
1 Try
Jake Mitchell Newman
4 Conversion
2 Penalty
Jonathan James
1 Try

Match Report
09 March 2015 / Team News

CRCC 32 - Brecon 34

With two months of the season remaining Brecon has had to negotiate a critical series of games which has pitted them against all the major contenders for the league title. In the previous two weeks they recorded notable victories against St Peters and Porth. The latest instalment of this trilogy of major challenges came when they travelled south to Cardiff, once again, to face Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd. This was an important game in that the Cardiff based side still have a game in hand on Brecon and  are the only side to have downed the Brecon colours in the league this season. Having faced one another twice previously, once in the cup and once at Parc de Pugh in the league, the teams were evenly matched with the sides only separated by no more than three points in each match and with a one away victory apiece. With this as the background Brecon knew that this match would have a major bearing in determining the final outcome of the league.

On a fine afternoon and with both sides having a reputation for playing open rugby the match kicked off with the expectation that it would produce an exciting close encounter. There was a fair amount of tension, which it would be fair to say affected Brecon more than the hosts in the opening encounters. CRCC exploded off the starting blocks and within minutes scored their opening try in the left corner.

Although only in the early phases of the game Brecon needed to respond quickly to avoid being left with a mountain to climb. To their credit their response was outstanding. They took control of possession and worked through the phases. Although they were unable to penetrate a good home defence the pressure brought a penalty in front of the posts and outside half Jake Newman made no mistake with the kick.

The re-start highlighted one of Brecon’s major failings, both in this game and throughout the season. The kick off was not taken cleanly and that lead to a period of pressure during which Brecon were forced to work hard in defence. The reward for that hard work came, when from a line out on half way, the Brecon mid-field backs created a lovely try. Jake Newman put centre, Eifion Jones in with a short flat pass. Eifion drew the last defender and put his co-centre Rob Price in under the posts. Jake Newman converted to give Brecon a 10 points to 5 lead.

Again Brecon failed to take the re-start and although they held out they conceded a long range penalty which the CRCC outside half had no difficulty converting, reducing Brecon’s lead to 2 points. Brecon bounced back with some good rugby of their own. Good forward drives from line outs and rucks ended in a penalty to Brecon inside the home 22. Bravely they opted to kick to the corner rather than at the posts. Brecon’s drive was stopped short but it sucked in defenders and Brecon then moved the ball wide. Eifion Jones used Rob Price as a decoy and swept out a wide pass to Jake Crockett who was in at the corner. Newman added the conversion.

The re-start again caused Brecon problems and when CRCC second row cut through a try looked the most likely outcome, however, his pass was poor and was dropped by the supporting player on Brecon’s 5 metre line. With the put in Brecon should have been able to clear and go into half time with a comfortable 9 point lead. However, they lost the scrum against the head and were driven backwards allowing the home number 8 to touch down for a try which was converted.

The second half started in the same manner as the first. CRCC pressurised Brecon and were eventually awarded a penalty in front of the posts. The three points gave the home side a narrow one point advantage with the next score now becoming critical for both sides.

For the next ten minutes both defences held sway although gradually Brecon became the more dominant. Relief for CRCC came in the form of a penalty in their 22 and they cleared their lines to just inside the Brecon half. The throw missed its target and was taken by a CRCC player at the tail of the line out. Second row Jonathan James crashed into him, drove him back and stole the ball. From the ensuing maul Danny Howe emerged with the ball and set up a ruck. The ball was moved to No 8 Tom Daley who stepped past the first defender and sped into open field creating a two on one situation with the full back to beat. He used the supporting player as a distraction and burst away himself to score a brilliant solo try under the posts. Newman again converted.

Brecon failed to hold onto their regained lead for very long. Within 5 minutes and from a scrum on halfway CRCC broke and eventually their wing scored under the posts for a converted try which restored their lead.

As was the pattern of this match, the lead changes hands again within minutes when Jake Newman kicked his second penalty. Then after some great defensive work Brecon extended their lead. The home outside half threw a poor pass on halfway. Instead of hitting its intended target it ended up in the arms of Eifion Jones who accepted the gift gratefully and ran half the length of the field to score a try which was converted.

Now, as tiredness crept in as a result of the fast and frantic pace of the game, both sides began to make mistakes. As the eightieth minute approached Brecon knew the game was in the bag but the final act was still to be played out. CRCC threw everything into attack to try to salvage something from the game and they were rewarded when their centre cut through some weak defence to score a try which was converted. The score brought them two deserved bonus points which will have disappointed Brecon but did not detract from what was a brilliant result for the league leaders. Throughout, the team had worked hard with the likes of Davey Herdman, Rob Price, Jonathan James Danny Howe and Dafydd Thomas making massive contributions. Now the focus must shift to consolidating their position at the head of the table when they play Pentyrch away on Thursday 19th March.

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