For only the second time in the long history of the two clubs, Brecon hosted Neath in a competitive match. The last time this occurred was in October 1972 when Brecon played Neath in the third round of the WRU Cup. That day, under the captaincy of stalwart Brian Price, Brecon finally lost the match to their illustrious opponents by 30 points to nil. Since that last encounter, Brecon have worked their way up and into the Premiership while Neath have slipped from the days when they were the leading Club in Welsh Rugby. So, with both sides eager to register a win after losses in their season’s opening fixtures an even contest was predicted. For, Brecon, however, facing opponents with such a formidable pedigree was always going to be a challenge, as much, or perhaps more, mentally than physically.
For the first 30 minutes of the match Brecon totally failed to meet that challenge. On a dry, bright autumn afternoon and on a perfect Parc de Pugh pitch, Brecon were clearly second best. During that 30 minute period the game was played almost exclusively in the Brecon half, with Neath dominating territory, possession and the tempo of the game. As in the previous week at Newbridge, Brecon’s kicking out of hand was poor. As a result, and in spite of the fact that again Brecon’s line out, led by Callum Bradbury, was particularly accurate and effective, Brecon were unable to lift the siege. Their defence worked hard, with hooker Geraint Clarke putting in a number of big hits, and with scrum half, Geraint Workman covering well. For a time Brecon held out the dominant and enterprising Neath team. Then a mistake led to the first score. After working hard in defence to hold Neath up over the try line, Brecon made a hash of the relieving try line drop out. The low kick had no distance and went straight into the arms of second row Matthew Davies who had a simple run in for a try, which outside half Steffan Williams converted.
That first score was disappointing but Brecon’s problems were almost immediately compounded when they failed to contain Neath off the kick off. Neath quickly re-established pressure in the Brecon half and scored their second try when lively scrum half, Rhodri Cole, broke through under the posts. With the Williams conversion being a formality Brecon found themselves 14 points down after just eleven minutes play.
At this point everything was flowing in Neath’s favour, as much as a result of Brecon’s failings, as the efficient and enterprising play of the Neath fifteen. Neath’s dominance was such that the home support in the large crowd feared a landslide particularly after Neath took a nineteen point lead with a try off a driving maul scored by second row Jacob Blackmore. This try came in spite of some gallant defence. Flanker Ioan Edwards put in a lot of work and centre Tomos Davies and hooker Aneurin James put in some great hits. Again it was a mis-directed kick that again caused problems. The kick was short and misdirected and Brecon were caught offside and then marched back a further ten metres for dissent. At the next scrum Brecon were penalised, Neath won the line out on 5 metres and they drove over. The scrum penalty was a bit of an anomaly as for the greater part of the game Brecon’s scrum held a slight advantage but this one lapse left Brecon facing a mountain to climb.
In the last ten minutes of the half, they did mount something of a revival. For the first time they entered the Neath half and exerted some pressure. A catalyst for this change was the introduction of flanker Osian Davies off the bench. On his last appearance in a Brecon on shirt before travelling to New Zealand, Osian showed all the traits he renown for. He was combative and abrasive at the breakdown, carried strongly and hit players back in the tackle. The rest of the team responded to his lead and Brecon suddenly looked as if they could match their opponents. Chad Davies had a number of good runs on the wing and outside half, Jake Newman made a good break only to have the ball knocked out of his grasp with the line in sight.
The improvement continued into the second half. Now with the breeze at their backs Brecon’s kicking game suddenly improved. Newman gained ground from two 50/22 kicks. Suddenly Neath were forced into defensive mode and Brecon deservedly reduced the arrears with a team try which featured a great individual finish. Brecon’s scrum won a penalty on half way. Off a line out Brecon moved the ball left. Right-wing Ryan Davies took the ball in mid field and looked for an outside break but was just put to the ground but not held. In one movement he released the ball, regained his feet and picked up to drive through the final cover and score a try which Newman converted.
The game was now completely turned on its head as Brecon dominated play in the Neath half and soon Davies collected his second try. A Jack Dixon pass gave Ryan an opportunity which he took clinically. The wide Newman conversion just failed but Brecon were now just one score adrift and in the ascendancy with time on their side, but it wasn’t to be. A combination of some determined and effective Neath defence, and small errors, prevented Brecon from finally closing the gap. The door was finally closed when Neath scrum half Rhodri Cole made a great blind side break off a scrum in his half. He almost made it to the Brecon try line with just a foot in touch preventing a score. Brecon won the line out and returned to the Neath half but time was called and Neath deservedly took the spoils, leaving Brecon with a second losing bonus point from a second defeat and a record they must reverse at Cross Keys next Saturday.
On the positive side the Athletic opened their first ever National League season with an excellent bonus point win at St Peters, emerging as victors by 25 points to 24 in a very close encounter.
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