Fixture

At the end of an immensely hectic week for Brecon 1^st XV the forward march of the team continued. The week started with a famous semi-final Plate victory over their closest rivals, Penallta. On Wednesday this was followed up by a very hard fought victory in the gloom at Ynysbwl. Now at the end of the week Brecon travelled to Risca in balmy early spring conditions. After the cold, gloom and even snow of the previous Wednesday, conditions at Risca were very welcome, particularly Brecon enjoy playing an expansive game. There was no doubt that there were a number of bruised and tired bodies but with both league and Plate ambitions still alive the aches and pains had to be set aside as there was a job to be done.

Initially Brecon had to defend as Risca started brightly and maintained possession through a number of phases. Eventually they gained a penalty which outside half Ben Murphy converted to give the home team the early lead. Brecon hit back with some lovely rugby and they soon took the lead with a very well-constructed try. Hooker Ryan Williams and centre Sam Campbell played a big part in the build-up to the try scored by scrum half Geraint Workman. Both of these players maintained an important presence throughout the game. Both ran strongly and posed problems for the home defence and both were immense in defence.

They were not the only players to put in big performances. Back row players Davey Herdman and Ioan Edwards were everywhere both in attack and defence. Their styles of play are quite contrasting with Ioan reading the game well and playing in support as an extra back while Herdman bristles with power and energy both on the tackle and on the burst.  The third member of the outstanding back row, Ewan Williams, was again impressive while he was on the field but, worryingly, left the fray just before half time with an ice pack on his leg. Fortunately for Brecon they had an able deputy in Ryan James who was impressive after coming on to the field as a substitute.

Once Brecon were in front they lifted the tempo of the game and Risca found it difficult to live with it. Before half time Brecon collected three more tries to claim a bonus point while the only reply from their opponents was a second Murphy penalty. Each try featured some lovely rugby. Ryan Price on the wing put in a great run to set up a try for Ewan Williams for try number two. Try number three featured a wonderful popup pass off Eifion Jones before Davey Herdman made a great run and put second row Will Prosser in under the posts. The fourth try before half time came as a result of Brecon’s defensive pressure which forced Risca to spill the ball and the pace of wing Ryan Price did the rest. Outside half Dean Gunter added to Brecon’s advantage with four conversions.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first. The home team deservedly scored first after Brecon gave away a series of penalties. Completely out of character, Brecon fell off a number of tackles as Risca attacked through mid-field and centre Taylor Dimmick scored and Murphy converted.

Brecon’s response was immediate. For the first time it was forward grunt that earned the reward. From a driving maul Andy Nicholl drove over and from wide out Gunter missed his first kick.

The next scores were shared between the two teams. Brecon scored first. Richie Davies made one of his trademark runs and then young centre Tudor Roderick made a great break before giving wing Owen Morgan just a glimmer of a chance. He took it brilliantly with little space to work in. Risca responded when they ran in for a try after catching Brecon cold with a quick tapped penalty. Murphy again converted.

From that point on it was all one way traffic. Ryan Williams ran hard and earned a penalty which Gunter put into the corner and off a driven maul Elgan Lewis scored. The eighth try was beautifully constructed. A lovely switch deep in their own half created space and eventually Jake Crockett finished in the corner. The final try featured a lovely break from replacement scrum half Lewys Cooke. With flanker Ioan Edwards in support Cooke timed his pass beautifully and Edwards cantered over. Although Gunter missed the wide conversion he ended the day with a total of six conversions.

With one hard week over there is no rest bite for the team. Two more games are lined up for the coming week and they include a battle against massive rivals, Penallta at Ystrad Mynach on Wednesday.