Fixture

Brecon came to their 6^th league match with optimism after their much needed win last week but they were up against a determined Risca team which also realised the importance of the encounter at Parc de Pugh.  

The match begun with Risca pressure being repelled by a strong Brecon scrum.  The Risca No 10, Adam Tetley, was held up in a maul by a stubborn Brecon defence, however, Brecon’s scrum fractured  and only a dropped pass prevented a Risca score.  Several attacks later, Brecon strayed offside and Risca’s Number Ten Adam Tetley scored the first penalty of the match.

A superb kick off by Brecon’s Number Ten, Jake Newman, was followed by a fine line out catch and although Newman was forced to take the pass with upstretched arms, he managed a deft drop-goal to level the score.

Continued raids by Risca’s big forwards came to nothing and from a well-taken line out close to Risca’s 22 metre line, Brecon conceded a scrum. Risca, under very little pressure, knocked the ball on and then gave away a penalty.  Newman’s kick went wide of the posts.

Risca’s indiscipline and good Brecon defence produced a wonderful try in the 23^rd minute by Brecon’s Captain, Eifion Jones. An accurate throw by hooker Jim Williams was cleanly taken by the ever present Andrew Hosie`.  Brecon, in something of a role reversal, formed a rolling maul which split the Risca defence and quick passing led to Jones crossing for a converted try under the post.

A brilliant break by Jake Newman from the Risca kick-off almost led to a Brecon try and at this stage spectators might have wondered if Brecon were establishing a backline superiority which would safely take them to victory but this prediction soon proved fallacious. A straightforward penalty kick was missed by Brecon and the attacking waves of rampaging Risca forwards returned. With Brecon’s scrum under pressure, Risca’s Number Eight, Jack Goody, fought his way over for an unconverted try, leading to a half-time score of Brecon 10, Risca 8.

Risca started the second-half with great energy, pressurising the Brecon line from the start. Ben Farley, playing for Risca at 13, beat two defenders close to the Brecon try line but the try was unconverted. Brecon responded immediately by collecting their own kick-off. Jake Newman nearly scored but quick passing by Vice Presidents’ man-of-the-match Davey Herdman allowed quick-silver winger Blake Parata to dive over the line for Brecon’s second try, which was converted by Jake Newman.

Both number ten’s then exchanged penalties. The next phase of the game proved crucial. Although both sides threatened their opponents’ lines, only ferocious defence, with Herdman prominent, kept Risca at bay. Working from their powerful scrum, Risca attacked Brecon’s line time and time again. In one such exchange, Eifion Jones tackled a Risca attacker illegally and he spent the last ten minutes of the match on the side lines. A loose ball at the back of a Risca scrum led to confusion in Brecon’s defence and the Risca’s Jack Goody scored a converted try.

Brecon fought back and spent the last ten minutes of the match camped within Risca’s 22 metre line. Brecon pressure produced a penalty, but Jake Newman’s kick went to the right of the posts. Dogged defence led to a penalty for Risca in the dying moments, so relieving the pressure close to their try line and ending a match which might easily have gone either way.

The fact that Brecon failed to secure the win partly reflected the determination of an energised Risca outfit in the second half with the odd missed penalty the ultimate difference between the two sides. The loss also exemplified a theme that has run through most of the previous matches, in which Brecon struggle to protect their lead and to consistently compete in the scrum and with a lack of confidence sometimes spreading to the backs. The next couple of matches will be a useful indication as to whether or not Brecon can acclimatise to the pace and power of division one. Things are improving  and there was enough evidence on show in this match to suggest that given quality ball, they can compete with many sides in this league.