Fixture

With the season moving into the final quarter Brecon were in desperate need of a win to help with their fight out of the relegation zone. In spite of the fact that performances have shown considerable improvement in recent months Brecon are still just one place off the relegation zone and anything other than a victory, against mid table Porth, would certainly have brought little comfort to the team or its loyal band of supporters.

The omens were good in that Brecon and Porth have faced one another twice previously this season with Brecon winning both of those encounters at Porth in both league and cup matches. With home advantage on this occasion there was justified optimism in the home camp.

The opening exchanges certainly went Brecon’s way. The game was played almost exclusively in the Porth half of the field with Brecon threatening to score on numerous occasions. As time wore on, however, there was a niggling worry that with all the possession and territory Brecon should have registered points on the board. Then out of nowhere Brecon were almost punished for the opportunities which were being squandered through a lack of accuracy and support in the final phases. The lively Porth scrum half broke blind on his 22 and put his left wing away on a 50 metre run. Fortunately he was halted short of the line and Brecon returned to the offensive unscathed.

Again Brecon failed to capitalise on some excellent breaks, notably by Tom Daley, Davey Herdman and Jake Crockett and the first points of the match fell to the reliable boot of outside half Gari Davies who converted a straight forward penalty. Gari soon increased Brecon’s lead with his second penalty but the six point lead was soon cut.

The build up to Brecon’s first reverse on the score board was very disappointing. Going forward on half way the ball was spilled and then a penalty was given away. An unnecessary comment from one of the Brecon team gifted the opposition an extra ten metres and allowed the outside half the opportunity of kicking to touch just 5 metres from the home line. With the lineout secured the Porth pack generated an unstoppable drive and on only their second visit to the home 22 they recorded a try to cut Brecon’s lead to a single point.

With half time looming Brecon should have twice increased their lead but on both occasions the scoring pass was butchered leaving Brecon with a single point advantage to take into the break.

The second half started in the same manner. A great forward drive took the ball deep into the visitors 22 but at the breakdown the overeager Brecon pack were penalised for falling over and sealing off the ball. Porth escaped the pressure and then taught Brecon a lesson in how to finish. Given a penalty on half way the scrum half took a quick tap and forced a tackle within ten metres of the penalty mark. Another ten metres was awarded by the referee and again the tap was quickly taken and the ball was swept swiftly and accurately to the left wing. Brecon’s defence was easily outflanked and Porth took the lead with a try.

Brecon now desperately needed to pull something back. They were aided by a strong scrum which gained greater and greater superiority as the game wore on. Yet scoring still proved problematical. In contrast to their opponents Brecon failed to make use of a five metre line out, opting to spread the ball immediately rather than go for the catch and drive, they lost possession after a loose pass. Porth, however, now found it difficult to relieve the pressure and Gari Davies again came to Brecon’s aid with his third penalty.

Now only a point behind and dominating territory, it seemed only a matter of time before Brecon regained the lead. Time ticked away, however, and the score didn’t come until an inspired substitution changed the character of the game. Coach Chris Yates brought himself on for a cameo appearance in the centre. His first involvement saw him crash straight down midfield. Although stopped the impact and potential threat he offered suddenly focused the defence on him. He then proceeded to distribute the ball accurately and Brecon looked suddenly more dangerous.

When a score came it came from a series of scrums. The front row of Ryan Harris, Josh Davies Mike Chappelle and replacements, Andy, Nichol and Aaron Horne had worn down their opponents and now they reaped the benefit. First they drove Porth off their own ball then they drove a scrum 15 metres back to the try line where the scrum collapsed. The re-set scrum almost produced a score as did the next until finally the referee lost his patience with the Porth pack and awarded a penalty try which Gari Davies converted.

The relief was clearly visible and now with their tails up Brecon did what they had been threatening all afternoon. Davey Herdman made a great initial break and Tom Daley finished the move with a storming 40 metre run. Again Davies converted and assured Brecon of victory.

The final act of the afternoon was bizarre. Porth worked hard to create a foothold in Brecon territory and when they were awarded a penalty seemed to signal that they were going for the posts. Brecon gathered under the posts as the kicking tee was brought on. Porth suddenly took a quick tap, moved the ball wide and their left wing had an easy run in for his second try. That reverse, however, heralded the end of the match where Brecon gained their objectives of another four points in the bank and a larger gap between them and the chasing two teams, Aberdare and Tylorstown.