Fixture

Brecon RFC | 1st Team 30 - 17 Cambrian Welfare RFC | 1st Team
Sam Hellard
Try 1
Dion Mcintosh
Conversion 2
Penalty 3
Ioan Edwards
Try 1

Match Report
18 September 2022 / Team News

Match Report – Cambrian Welfare 17th September 2022

A visit to the Usk Valley is a highly recommended venture at the best of times, although particularly so at this time of the year, as Summer backs away and the Autumn changes come creeping in. Brecon Rugby Club are hugely aware of their good fortune in being situated in such a beautiful part of Wales, and the picturesque setting it affords to the iconic Parc de Pugh ground has provided a wonderful backdrop for the Club as they have enjoyed a healthy period of success, both on and off the field, in recent times.

The changing seasons provides an apt metaphor for the recent changes that have taken place at the club, as a new coaching unit has come in, keen to impart their wisdom and experience on the playing unit, and also seeking to add a new chapter to the illustrious history of the Club.

The impressive environment provided the setting for the return to action of the Club’s First XV, following the enforced hiatus of the previous week in response to recent difficult events.

Having played a single league game thus far, the home team had to lace the boots up to start their campaign in the WRU Division 1 Cup. Whilst the focus of any club would primarily be in seeking success in the League system, the Cup competition is something which does provide rare opportunities, both in terms of opponents faced, and also the allure of a day out at the Principality Stadium if a cup run were to prove successful. This is, understandably, something that Brecon would be keen to pursue, given recent positive experiences in the competition.

The structure of the WRU Cup this year, is based on the Divisional Structure, so Brecon are competing for the trophy available to all teams across Wales who currently operate in the first divisions. The initial phases, before entering any form of knock out jeopardy, are based on a group format with, in Brecon’s case, three other teams. Whilst this gives some relief in terms of allowing for a minimum number of games, the coaching group would have been keen to ensure that their charges seek to get off to a winning start, to build some momentum as the competition, and the season, evolve.

For their first game, Brecon welcomed Cambrian Welfare (CW) from the Clydach Vale, a team who are operating in East Central at present. They are not a club that Brecon have come across to any great extent in recent times, and the fact that this was an early season meeting meant that both teams could not draw upon significant recent performances with which to base their understanding of their opponents on. Notwithstanding this, the home coaching team were very much aware that they would be facing a strong unit, with an impressive collective will and desire.

Additionally, the recent developments within the club have also raised aspirations of opponents who visit Parc de Pugh, and it is clear that a victory over Brecon on their own ground comes with some currency for some teams.

Following a minute’s silence and reflection, which was impeccably observed by all involved, and also the respective Youth teams of Brecon and Merthyr on the adjoining fields, the teams took up position seeking to make early inroads in terms of possession and territory, and to lay down a marker for their opponents to be aware, and wary, of.

It was CW who got proceedings under way as they kicked off towards the town end, in a game which Brecon were grateful was being sponsored by Brad Williams. The recent fine weather has continued and, whilst the heat has abated to some extent, the weather and pitch conditions still provide opportunities for teams to play an expansive game should they wish.

The home team, in gaining possession from the kick off, immediately won a penalty with a visiting transgression, and this allowed Brecon to kick for touch and take a lineout from which, hopefully, to build a good platform to work from. However, in a move that was somewhat reflective of previous games, and also in terms of how this game progressed, the home line-out wobbled slightly and this gave a scrum feed-in to the visiting team. Equally, the dominance that Brecon achieved at the scrum, and the resulting penalty won, gave an indication to the home supporters that this could be a profitable area for their team as the afternoon progressed.

The opening period of the game became somewhat characterised by both teams making a number of unforced errors, and the home team, in particular, seemed somewhat tentative in their approach. Whilst you must credit the opposition for their tenacity and vigour, and the way they harried the home team, the Brecon players seemed to lack the initial hard edge to their play as the game evolved.

It was clear that this was a source of frustration to the coaching group, and the players themselves understood that they were not finding the intensity and rhythm that would enable them to build some dominance into the game.

During this period, both teams also appeared to be rushing things and there was a certain haphazardness to the direction of the game. Given this, it was no surprise that both teams fell on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle and they both conceded a number of penalties. Shots at goal were taken, and it was from one of these that the stalemate was broken when the Brecon outside half, Dion Macintosh, landed his first goal and sent Brecon in to a lead that, on balance, was deserved.

The frantic nature of the game did see the home team try to put the ball through the hands on a number of occasions, although this was often undermined by simple handling errors. The positive from this would have been the growing intent to impose themselves on the game, although the situation did call out occasionally for a more direct approach from the ball carriers, and to reduce the tendency to move laterally.

To their credit, the visiting Welfare unit, also brought some ambition to the game, although they, too, were often guilty of squandering opportunities through poor handling or decision making.

The latter part of the first half, whilst still seeing the ball go to ground on occasion, did also see an increase in tempo from the home team, and they were able to string together some increased phase play that supported their ambition to go from deep.

On one such occasion, following a 50 metre incursion from deep in their territory, fly half Mackintosh saw an opportunity to float a kick out wide which was claimed by winger Sammy Hellard. He was able to use quick feet, and hands, and linked well with No 8 Ioan Edwards who provided the final off load for Sammy to plunge over in the corner for the game’s first try. Dion Mackintosh built on his excellent contribution with the earlier kick-pass, to convert the score with an excellent effort from out wide.

This score had the result of galvanising both teams into showing some more intent with the ball in hand, and the game really did fluctuate between either team attacking relentlessly, but being denied by some increasingly focused defensive efforts.

CW had been strong in elements of their own game, particularly in their own driving lineout, and from one such set piece, following a penalty kick to touch, they successfully drove over the town end line for their own opening score. The conversion was unsuccessful but the phase of play had sent out warning signs to the home squad on the need to keep discipline, and concentration, without losing their own intensity.

To Brecon’s credit, they did respond with a period of the game that saw them dominate in most facets. Whilst, again, certain moves had broken down because of the lack of precision with the final pass, they were still able to gain good territory, often from some strong running by their outside backs. The pressure being exerted saw the home team gain a number of favourable penalty decisions, and from one such penalty, after another dominant scrum, a quick tap and go saw rapid progress being made only for the visiting team to offend once more with what was deemed a deliberate knockdown that thwarted a Brecon attack. The referee had no hesitation in running under the posts to award a penalty try, whilst also showing a yellow card to the visiting transgressor.

This episode had the effect of spurring Brecon into a period where they sought to build on the lead. Form the resulting kick off, No 8 Edwards took the ball under pressure, and the home team took the decision to attack from deep. A powerful break by Captain, Jake Crockett, took play into CW territory from where, the home team applied significant pressure as the half time approached. This was played out through a sequence of penalties, lines-out and, ultimately as series of scrums close to the CW try line. After some strong drives, and also some frustrating resets, No 8 Edwards picked the ball up, and showed good footwork and power to drive over for the score. Another fine Mackintosh goal saw the whistle blow for half time the with the home team leading 24-5.

The scoreline was something of a surprise, as the performance hadn’t necessarily suggested that such a dominant lead would be forthcoming. Notwithstanding, whilst the performance hadn’t been of the sort of quality that the home team, coaches, and supporters, would have hoped for, a lead of this nature was a good indicator of the more dogged aspects of Brecon’s play, and the ability to compete when not at 100%

During the half time break, the coaches would have been asking for greater cohesion, commitment, and precision in their game, and would also have highlighted the need to ensure that the second period saw their charges starting strongly.

It was therefore something of a mystery, and no doubt something that will be focused on in the review of the game, as to why the home team had a relative mixed bag of a second half, where any positive aspects of their play, and there were a number, were undermined by the seeming lack of pattern and cohesion, and also the fact that they seemed prone to errors.

The disjointed nature of things was manifest in increasing tensions and the fact that the game became a bit more fractious. Both teams conceded a number of penalties, and the referee had cause to speak to players, and the captains, on a couple of occasions. This was purely a result of frustrations at what was turning out to be a very disjointed state of affairs throughout most of the second period.

CW enjoyed some dominance in certain period of the game, and they ran the ball at the home team with power and real intent, in addition to the continued value of their driving lines-out. During this period, they scored two further tries, one of which was converted, which enabled them to claw back the gap to 24-17.

Brecon, however, rallied again, and the pressure they were able to exert saw them rewarded with a number of penalties, two of which Dion Mackintosh landed to extend the home team lead to 30-17.

This was to turn out to be the final score of the game, although the latter periods of the match saw the visitors upping their efforts again, although it is to the credit of the Brecon team that they compiled a series of strong defensive efforts to thwart the visiting ambitions, and, no matter how the team felt they performed in general, the spirit involved in stringing together such phases of play indicates a squad with a strong team and work ethic.

The second half meandered somewhat to its denouement, and neither team was able to add to their total. The final play of the game was somehow redolent of what had gone before insomuch as Brecon scrummaged strongly on their own 22. They sought to launch a final attack from there, indicating a positive attacking intent although, somewhat inevitably, this was undone by a pass not going to hand and, it was with a certain relief and resignation, that the referee blew his whistle to indicate ‘no side’.

This rather inauspicious end did provide a good summation of how the game had evolved, and there remained certain frustrations in the home camp after the game that they had not done themselves justice.

Whilst there will be a close scrutiny of where, and why, things did not go as planned, credit must always be given to the opposition and it is worth reiterating that CW were very determined and competitive. 

It is to the credit of the Brecon squad that they came away with a win at the end of the day, and their preparations have undoubtedly been hampered by a number of injuries across the squad. This has resulted in their being no consistency in terms of who the coaching staff have had at their disposal, and has also seen a number of players being asked to perform out of their normal positions.

A return to league action next week will see the squad work hard at training in the meantime, to build upon a positive result, but also take on the direction of the coaches as they seek to work on certain areas of the game, with a view to improving performances as we start to move deeper into the season.

It is also important to note that, in addition to the success enjoyed by the firsts, the Athletic had a good win (47-0) away at Dowlais, and the Youth also claimed a hard fought win against Merthyr.

 

 

 

 

 

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