Fixture

Brecon entertained old Breconshire rivals, Brynmawr, under Parc de Pugh lights on Friday evening. For both sides this was an important fixture in terms of League and promotion ambitions. Second placed Brynmawr held the advantage having amassed 51 points from their 15 games played, while third placed Brecon trailed their rivals by 12 points, with a total of 39 points but having played just ten matches. Brecon’s games in hand gave them a potential advantage but with points in the bank Brynmawr would certainly put pressure on Brecon with an extra four points from a win and with a very congested end of the season fixture schedule. One thing Brecon should have learned, from tight games like this, was that the start was all important. Chasing a game is never easy, particularly when your opponents play to a simple pattern, relying on bulk and power allied to a good kicking game. Yet, not for the first time this season Brecon conceded points within the first three minutes. When they took the kick off cleanly, won the ruck and Carl Blacker hoisted a lovely kick into the night sky, Brecon seemed to have executed a good escape from their territory. When the Brynmawr wing failed to gather the ball cleanly and was forced to scramble back and fall on the ball, Brecon looked well placed to but pressurise their visitors in their territory. But, Brecon were over eager and were penalised for diving on the man on the floor. Brynmawr, kicked the penalty to the Brecon 22, won a second penalty off the line out and kicked to the corner. They setup an effective maul off the five-metre line out and drove before A. Griffiths broke off to score an opening try after just three minutes play.

For Brecon, at this stage, there was no need to panic. With most of the game still to play and plenty of time to recover. However, as the first half progressed a worrying pattern developed. Brynmawr, kicked well for position. Once in Brecon territory they employed a simple pattern in which played to their strength. With possession, they were direct. They drove and ran hard, looking to win the collision beyond the gain line. At the breakdown they were aggressive and combative both when in possession and when trying to turn over or slow Brecon ball down. To an extent they were successful. Throughout the first half they dominated territory with Brecon rarely making an incursion into the Brynmawr half. Then when Brecon did cross halfway, they made errors and the stay on the offensive was short lived. Their line out was strangely inaccurate and they repeatedly lost the ball at the breakdown either by losing possession, being turned over or giving away a penalty. A classic example came in the last ten minutes of the half. Jake Crockett initiated a counter from deep in the Brecon half. Wing Darran Harris carried the play beyond halfway and the scrambling Brynmawr defence gave way a penalty. Scrum half Carl Blacker took a quick tap and showed pace off the mark. He linked with Ioan Edwards who drew the defence before being tackled seven metres short of the line. Quick ruck ball would have almost certainly led to a try, but the ball was lost on the floor and Brymawr kicked up-field into space. Brecon, committed to the attack, had no-one back and they were forced to scramble and fall on the ball on their ten metre line. Under pressure the ball was knocked forward and from being on the Brynmawr line they were now back in their own half and forced to defend yet again.

The one remarkable statistic that emerged was, that with all the territory and possession that Brynmawr had, following their early score, their only additional score, in the remaining 37 minutes, was a single penalty which gave them an eight point to nil halftime lead. Much of the credit for that had to go to the collective Brecon defence. The tackle count was certainly high but the success rate, against powerful opponents, was remarkably good. In that collective success some individuals stood out. Alwyn Lee’s tackling was exemplary. He took his opponents down low and hard and killed all momentum. Man of the match Richie Davies seemed to be everywhere and although not huge in stature, showed huge commitment against much bigger opponents. Then there was Sam Prosser, who produced the tackle of the half when he hit, drove back and dislodged the ball from the arms of his opponent who was charging at full tilt. This hit gave Brecon a lift and set an example which helped Brecon through to half time, wounded but not dead.

Whatever was said by coaches Dale McIntosh and Gavin Dacey at half time seemed to have an effect. Brecon had escaped from a disappointing first half relatively lightly but a similar performance in the second would have inevitably led to a defeat and something needed to change. Jake Crockett showed the way to go with a great run but with Brecon threatening they gave away a penalty at the breakdown. Now, however, Brecon were spending more time in the Brynmawr half and beginning to look threatening. It wasn’t long before they recorded their first score. Carl Blacker went blind off a scrum on ten metres. He linked with Crockett who chipped the flat defence and won the race to the touchdown.

Now just three points behind things were looking up particularly when the kick off failed to travel ten metres and Brecon drove their opponents back at a scrum on half way. However, the gremlins hadn’t completely been eradicated. The pass was dropped and Brynmawr ended up with a penalty on the ten metre line. The kick failed as Dion McIntosh gathered under the posts and put in a great kick and chase downfield. He pulled off the tackle on the Brynmawr ten metre line, won, and kicked a penalty to draw level on eight points.

Now Brecon were starting to look far more effective in attack and were beginning to play with some continuity. Darran Harris made a dangerous run on the left flank but although they got close the clinical finish wasn’t there and they paid for that. Brecon were caught at the base of an attacking scrum and from a penalty Brynmawr camped deep in the Brecon 22. Twice Brecon resisted as they held up the Brynmawr driving maul. At the third 5 metre line out they seemed to have sacked the maul legally but from a much closer and clearer position the referee awarded a penalty and sent Sam Prosser to the sin bin. Now a man short they faced a strong Brynmawr scrum and as it twisted under pressure the referee awarded a penalty try. The prospect of having to claw their way back into the game when down to 14 for most of the remaining half did not inspire confidence but the players responded brilliantly.

Crockett set up an attack after a wonderful catch under pressure. Great runs from Darran Harris and Logan McIntosh created one opportunity. Another came after a brilliant Owen Morgan break through midfield but determined defence and small errors denied the home side as time ticked away. Finally a Iwan Dowling Jones run sparked an attack which Owen Morgan and Jake Crockett continued forcing a penalty from the visitors. Brecon kicked for the corner and won a penalty off the line out. Two scrums from penalties followed. With Sam Prosser now back in place clean ball was won. Logan McIntosh probed, but was held up. Prosser picked and was just short only for McIntosh to pick and cross for a try. With the last play of the game Dion McIntosh slotted the ball through the middle of the posts to give Brecon a draw which at one point seemed unlikely. The spirit and commitment had overcome the error ridden performance and hopes of promotion continue with a series of three home games against Risca, Nelson and Monmouth over the next three weeks.