Fixture

On a fine autumn afternoon Brecon resumed their League programme at Parc de Pugh where visitors Blaenavon arrived on the back of an opening season win at Nelson. As the teams ran out onto the field it was clear that Blaenavon would pose a physical threat through their obvious bulk and power. Right from the early stages it was also clear that Brecon would need to cope with that challenge by stretching their opponents with pace and accuracy. In the early stages Brecon did exactly that. From anywhere on the field they ran clean possession, created openings and stretched the Blaenavon defence. So successful were they that they drew compliments such as, “excellent spatial awareness!” from their coaches, Dale McIntosh and Gavin Dacey. Such comments were deserved as within the space of ten minutes they had scored two tries and led by twelve points to nil. That all changed with the first scrum of the match. For the first time this season the Brecon pack were unceremoniously driven back and off the ball. That proceeded to give Blaenavon a lift and with their line out, driving maul and their pick and go game functioning well they suddenly caused Brecon some anxiety. In spite of conceding two yellow cards, they put Brecon under pressure and suddenly the home coaches call became, “We need to score to take the game away from them or they will cause us some damage!” Brecon failed to score at that stage and when Blaenavon reduced the deficit to just five points, as half time approached, the anxiety was heightened. The half time talk must have had a huge impact. Gradually the Brecon scrum began to cope and after some early pressure was lifted Brecon played some outstanding rugby to take the game completely away from their opponents. In the next 25 minutes of the half, Brecon scored five tries and added a total of 33 points to put the game beyond any doubt and way out of the reach of their gallant opponents.

As described, the first ten minutes of the match was plain sailing. Early width and incisive running, in which Jake Crockett featured regularly, brought an early try. Will Prosser, in his first outing with the senior team this season, drove hard and drew defenders. Quick ball gave Lewis Smout an opportunity near the line and he crashed over. Dion McIntosh converted.

Within minutes Brecon extended their lead. Second row Sam Prosser made a great tackle and turned the ball over. Brecon used the possession beautifully with Ben Griffin and Morgan Price showing their ability to beat a man and then to show awareness of space and accuracy in the pass. The move ended with a wide pass to hooker Aneurin James who scored wide out on the left. After ten minutes and with a twelve-point lead, Brecon were confident and the home support were relaxed and anticipating a comfortable ride to a bonus point win.

Those perceptions changed with the first scrum of the match. Brecon were driven off the ball and penalised. Blaenavon kicked the ball into touch on the home 5 metre line. Off the line out they set up the maul and drove. Brecon held the first drive and managed to halt the maul short of the line to win a scrum. In spite of the fact that it was a Brecon put in there was considerable threat from the visiting eight. Brecon’s Number 8 Ioan Edwards managed to scramble the ball away from the retreating scrum and Brecon survived as they broke out of defence, again with Crockett opening up the visitors’ defence.

The game then moved into an interesting but uncomfortable phase for the home contingent. Blaenavon through their powerful scrum, maul and effective pick and go game put Brecon under pressure. They survived for a while through good defence, some excellent breakdown work, in which flanker Matthew Williams was prominent, and good counter attacks from deep. Yet in spite of the fact that Blaenavon went down to thirteen men after a second cynical knock on denied Brecon a try, Brecon were unable to stretch their lead. That failing proved costly as with a full team restored Blaenavon reaped the benefit of their limited but effective power game. After a series of penalties and repeated pick and drives they crossed the home line for a try which was converted.

With half time approaching Brecon were on the back foot but they survived thanks to a great Josh Millichap run, another big Sam Prosser tackle, and a great relieving Dion McIntosh kick.

The second half started with Brecon having to defend but now the scrum was beginning to hold its own and after some excellent cover by scrum half Carl Blacker Brecon moved out of defence and into attack. The backs combined to give Sam Hellard space and from inside the 22 they carried the ball to within 15 metres of their opponents’ line. Quick ball was moved left and a wide pass to prop Lewis Smout, in space on the left wing allowed him to stroll over for his second try which McIntosh converted.

The bonus point try was not long in coming. Owen Morgan, on his return from injury, made a great run and was supported by Ollie Lewis who showed wonderful skills as he turned the ball back inside for Chris Davies to score and McIntosh to convert. Within minutes Chris Davies was involved again. He received a great pass from Will Prosser and then delivered a sublime pass out of the tackle to put Mcintosh over for a try which he converted.

Blaenavon now had no answer to the pace, accuracy and intensity of the Brecon attack. Owen Morgan made a great run from full back and was only halted by an ankle tap but managed to pop up a pass to Man of the match Dion McIntosh who strolled over for his second try and converted for a match total of 20 individual points. Brecon’s final score came again from a forward out wide after Sam Hellard created with a great which allowed Josh Millichap a run in at the right corner. Forty-five points to seven up and with ten minutes to go, Brecon visibly took their foot off the gas and Blaenavon, to their credit, struck back with two converted tries from one of their strengths, the driving maul.

At the end of a satisfactory afternoon Brecon were left to reflect on a lot of positives and a number of negatives. Some of the patterns of play were just what the coaching team has been aiming for both in pre and early season preparations. However, on this occasion there was a glaring weakness in the scrum and Brecon found it difficult to halt both the driving maul and effective pick and go play. These issues will undoubtedly be addressed as Brecon move into a very competitive and challenging phase of the season. First, they face Bedlinog away on Saturday 1^st Oct and then they host one of the league’s favourites, Penallta, at home on 8^th. Undoubtedly these matches will have a huge bearing on the success or failure of the season. With a very long injury list, particularly amongst the forwards, they will be hoping for some good news on that front but will be prepared to adapt and cope as necessary with the belief that the steady improvement over the 80 minutes will continue to build in the face of the severe challenges in the near future.