Fixture

Following their promotion to Division 1 Brecon’s new coach, Eugene Murnane, set his team the target of securing a narrow home victory in their first experience at this level. Visitors Blackwood were also newcomers to Division 1 having been relegated at the end of last season after a long period as a Championship team. With no history between the teams and with both sides in unfamiliar territory there were few supporters of either side who were prepared to confidently predict the outcome of the match but there was hope in both camps.

For Brecon that glimmer of hope burst into life right from the kick off as they opened their campaign in a way that nobody anticipated. They took the game to their opponents using the full width of the pitch and showing complete confidence in their ability to move the ball wide. With the handling quick and accurate and with a genuine pace about their game they immediately but their opponents on the back foot and they posted their first score within two minutes of the start of the game. The try was brilliantly constructed after a series of well-timed passes and a break from centre Cameron Gardner which put right wing Joey Morgan in space allowing him to cross for the first try. Gari Davies converted.

Where Cameron Gardner was a creator in this first scoring move he became the finisher of the next. Gari Davies set up the position with a great kick and with the chasers holding up Blackwood’s Thomas Powell in the tackle they won a scrum in an offensive position. In the front row of that scrum it was pleasing to welcome back both Gareth Owens and Mike Chappelle after their spells away from the club and also hooker Elgan Lewis who made a good impression on his first appearance in Brecon colours.  Through their efforts the scrum was always moving forward and Brecon had good ball to play with. With ball on the front foot Jake Newman made an important incursion into the line from full back and gave Gardner the chance of a score. Pace and strength saw the centre crash through final despairing tackles to extend Brecon’s lead which now stretched to 14 points following Gari Davies’ conversion.

At this stage Blackwood could not live with Brecon’s pace and with both Gari Davies and Jake Newman kicking superbly out of hand Brecon constantly looked dangerous. The lead extended to 21 points when from a scrum centre Eifion Jones burst through off a flat pass, completely splitting the defence and allowing him to score under the posts. Davies again converted with just 11 minutes of the match played.

Blackwood responded well, not allowing their heads to drop in the face of the onslaught. An interception allowed them to gain territory and Brecon for the first time were forced to defend. Their defence was effective and important, as at this stage they wanted to snuff out any remaining hope of a Blackwood resurgence. Jake Newman’s excellent clearance out of defence put them back on the offensive and Eifion Jones again made a break which could have led to a try had not handling let the team down for the first time in the match.  Brecon were in rampant mood, however, and were not to be denied. Tom Daley broke almost unnoticed off the side of a maul and crossed wide out. The conversion failed as Davies for once failed to hit the target.

The game now flowed only in one direction and the fifth try came with the game barely more than 25 minutes old. The move started as left wing Jake Crockett appeared in mid field and cut through a gap on an arching run. Lovely handling then put Gardner away again for his second try of the afternoon. Gari Davies re-found his kicking boots and his conversion put Brecon 33 points ahead.

The result of the game was by now almost already decided but Blackwood didn’t give up and were only denied by some solid defence and some great driving play, led by back row forward Davey Herdman. With Herdman putting the team on the front foot the backs made ground with their swift accurate passing creating space down the left flank. When Jake Newman received the ball out wide he was covered but a beautifully judged kick over the last defenders allowed him to gather in space and canter over for a try which Davies again converted.

With the half now drawing to a close Brecon had one final say. After Gareth Owens turned the ball over in a defensive ruck and Davies put in a great kick into the visitors 22. Brecon made the most of the pressure they exerted at the line out as the ball spilled loose and young flanker Andrew Hosie dived over for his first try on his debut for the senior team. Davies’ conversion took the score to 47 points and signalled the end of the half.

The half had been outstanding yet, disappointingly what was to follow in the second period was decidedly ordinary. Brecon lacked the focus, pace and accuracy of the first half. They created chances but failed to complete through a lack of concentration. They also faced a much sterner challenge as Blackwood resorted to a tighter game which suited them far better. They retained possession and were able to exert sustained pressure on Brecon for the first time in the match. When wing Steffan Oszlanski crossed for a try in the corner it was well deserved. Brecon huffed and puffed after that but were ineffective as the game was dragged down into a niggly attritional affair which stuttered to a close leaving Brecon very satisfied with their bonus point wing but disappointed that they fell off their high standard set in the first half.

As the players gathered for the post-match de-briefing so the news filtered through that the second team had also recorded an outstanding victory at Llantwit Fadre by 40 points to 12 thus rounding off a successful opening day of the season for Brecon.