Fixture

Brecon RFC | 1st Team 71 - 12 Nelson RFC | 1st Team
Dafydd Edwards
Try 3
Jake Crockett
Try 1
Dion Mcintosh
Try 1
Conversion 9
Penalty 1
Ben Griffin
Try 1
Carl Blacker
Try 1
William Prosser
Try 2
Geraint Workman
Try 1

Match Report
30 October 2022 / Team News

Brecon 71 - Nelson 12

Brecon entered the final Pool match of the Division 1 Cup competition knowing that a win would secure progress into the last sixteen. In response to the challenge Brecon produced an outstanding performance to emphatically ensure that their place was secured. Visitors, Nelson, had no answer to the pace and accuracy of the Brecon team which outplayed their opponents in every facet of the game. A total of ten tries were scored by the home side and Dion McIntosh added nine conversions, many from difficult angles, and a penalty in the 71 points to 12 victory.

By half time Brecon had already scored six tries to build up a 43 points to nil lead. The half time talk for the Nelson team cannot have been an enviable proposition. Trying to motivate a team that had been outplayed for forty minutes cannot have been easy. However, credit must be given to their coaches and players for the way they regrouped battled in the early stages of the second half. In the first fifteen minutes they outscored Brecon by twelve points to seven before Brecon came storming back to finish with a flurry of four unanswered tries.

Brecon took control of the game right from the early stages. Prop Andy Nicholl executed an excellent turn over, won a penalty and Dion McIntosh put Brecon into an early lead. In Morgan Price at outside half and Dion McIntosh at inside centre, Brecon were possessed players with the ability to vary and deliver passes of the highest quality. This allowed the outside backs time and space in which to operate and from the start they made the most of their opportunities. Great hands across the backline gave Owen Morgan some space out on the wing and he made the most of it showing pace and strength to get outside his man before delivering the inside scoring pass to Jake Crockett.

The next try was in complete contrast to the first. Scrum half Carl Blacker put in a daring run which led to a Brecon line out 12 metres from the Nelson line. Alwyn Lee leapt high to secure the ball and the forwards formed a well organised maul which drove Nelson back over the line for the impressive Will Prosser to score.

Almost immediately it was back to the backs to take the limelight after grafting work by the forwards in which impressive hooker Aneurin James was prominent. Liam McIntosh drove close to the right touchline and drew defenders. Andy Nicholl put in a powerful run and then the ball was spread wide. A wonderful pass from Dion McIntosh put Crockett outside his man and he put supporting full back Dafydd Edwards away for an excellent try.

The next try was a wonderful effort, again with forwards and backs working harmoniously. Logan McIntosh turned the ball over on his ten metre line. Immediately the ball was moved wide with wing Owen Morgan appearing in mid-field. He created space before feeding Ben Griffin. He stepped inside his opposite number only to be brought down by the cover close to the line. He showed great awareness and composure to pop the ball out of the tackle to Dion McIntosh who crashed over.

Within minutes it was scrum half Carl Blacker who twice featured in a scoring move. He took a quick tap penalty, put Crockett into space on the right and supported inside to take the pass and score.

With half time approaching Brecon scored their sixth try. Again, it was a long-range affair but this time created by the forwards and finished by them. On half way Logan McIntosh carried and then delivered a sublime to pass to Brecon’s Man of the Match, flanker Matthew Williams. Matthew’s defensive tackling had been outstanding but this time it was his attacking skills which impressed. He cut a beautiful angle and split the visitors’ defence. After making good ground he then delivered a beautiful wide pass to Will Prosser who finished in the corner and for the only time in the afternoon McIntosh narrowly missed a wide kick at goal.

By half time the game was already won. However, Nelson were not prepared to just lie down. They battled back hard and for the first time Brecon were on the back foot. They kicked a penalty to the corner, drove off the lineout and sucked in Brecon’s defence. When the ball was spread wide Brecon’s defensive line was too narrow and the visiting wing scored in the corner.

Brecon hit back immediately. On Halfway Dion McIntosh put in a lovely delayed pass to Jake Crockett who cut a great straight line. He spilt the defence and then fed replacement scrum half Geraint Workman who finished under the posts.

Nelson still showed enough spirit to hit back again, this time scoring from a driving maul but this signalled the end of the resurgence. Brecon soon scored again when after some great carries from Richie Davies and Darren Witcomb, Nelson’s defence was spilt with almost a carbon copy of the previous try. From the home ten metre line Brecon opened up. A neat loop around by Morgan Price and then a soft flat pass put Crockett through. The ball was the spread left, and right wing Ben Griffin scored in the left corner.

Geraint Workman started the move which led to the ninth try with a quick tap and half break which was followed by good hands to put Dafydd Edwards over. It was Edwards again scoring the final try to collect his second hat trick in two successive matches. Alwyn Lee took the kick off and Lewis Smout secured ball. Brecon immediately went wide from in their 22. Brilliant runs from Crockett and Griffin took the ball deep into the Nelson half before they released Edwards, allowing him to add to his tally of tries and crown a great victory.

For Brecon perhaps one of the most pleasing aspects of the match was the way in which the game was played and the progress that is being made by both individuals and the team as a whole. The senior coaching team of Dale McIntosh, Gavin Dacey, Owen Sheppeard and Darren Harris set out their stall early in the preparations for the season. They wanted to play a fast attractive game that was enjoyable for players and supporters. In order to do that they had to build a platform, with secure ball at the set pieces and a genuine competitiveness at the breakdown, with the aim of delivering quick ball. Clearly, particularly over the last three matches, this message has been taken on board by the players. They have worked hard with the coaching team and are reaping the rewards. They are also taking on board Dale’s objective to produce players who are role models for the younger members of the Club and community. Role models, both on the field in terms of their attitude towards preparation and their execution in matches; and role models off the field where they show respect for their opponents and are looked up to by club supporters and the wider local community. They have taken not just the 1st XV along this path. The Athletic team have been fully involved in the process and their latest 31 points to 7 win, at Abercynon, is testament to the success of the programme.

Players
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