Fixture

Brecon travelled to Ystrad Rhondda looking to maintain the momentum they have gained during their previous three matches. Two of those wins came against Cross Keys and Newcastle Emlyn in the Premiership League while, in their last outing, Brecon pulled off and outstanding Premiership Cup win against Neath at Parc de Pugh. In spite of this good run of results, Brecon were under no illusions about the task that faced them as they journeyed into the heart of the Rhondda Fawr. In recent years Ystrad have consistently been one of the leading teams in the WRU Championship and last season were losing Championship Cup finalists. Brecon’s record against them has not been something to celebrate. The last encounter between the two sides took place in the Mid District Cup final at Pontypridd during May 2023 when they lost by 30 points to 13. In fact, for the most recent success against Ystrad you would have to look as far back as the Spring of1980 when Brecon took the honours in a closely fought Mid District Cup semi final match, played at Parc de Pugh. Although the sides have not regularly played one another in the succeeding 44 years, when they have met, Ystrad have been the dominant force. This time Brecon were determined to take another scalp as they looked to build on recent successes. That goal was achieved on a balmy autumn afternoon at Gelligaled Park with a 22 points to 14 victory.

Without showing any disrespect to a very good Ystrad team who fought to the end and gave themselves a chance of points, and even victory in the closing minutes, Brecon, on balance, should have emerged as more comfortable winners. They controlled possession from first phase. The scrum always had the edge and at times made their opponents struggle to clear the ball as they retreated back towards their own line. For that huge credit must be given to the front row including Owen Ford, Lewis Smout, Aneurin James, Chris Phillips, Sam May and in particular hooker Geraint Clarke who had a great game, not only in the tight but in his all-round work both with ball in hand and in defence. Two drives off the tail off the line out, where he gathered opposition overthrows were particularly impressive, as he drove into and through the opposing defence.

The lineout, as it has been in previous matches, was another plus point. At this phase, Callum Bradbury, ably supported by Alwyn Lee, Ben Sier, Matthew Williams, Ioan Edwards and Logan McIntosh were secure on their own throw, apart from the odd crooked throw, and caused their opponents no end of problems on their trow ins . The line out also laid the platform for two of Brecon’s three tries.

The backs looked threatening at times although they found it difficult to finish off promising attacks thanks to the determination and resilience of the home defence. Half backs Lewis Jones, Geraint Workman and James Dixon, controlled the game well and centres Tomos Davies, Tom Richards and Jack Dixon, who made some impressive runs when he entered the fray, all had good moments. In the back three Jake Newman kicked well and always looked eager to spark a counter attack or to enter the line, while both wings, Ryan Davies and Sam Jones, looked sharp. Ryan Davies in particular had a very good game with a number of rapid and powerful breaks, while Sam Jones did what he does best and that is finish, even in tight situations,

So, with so many plusses it was surprising that the win was not clearer cut. Obviously, part of the reason for that can be attributed to the quality of the opposition who were operating off the back foot, but Brecon have to accept that they could and should have been more accurate and clinical. For the first 25 minutes of the game Brecon dominated territory and Possession.  Twice they turned down opportunities to score off straightforward penalties and went for kicks to the corner. On both occasions their driving maul was held on the line. A third drive also failed and then some great handling and a Tomos Davies break looked as if it would yield the first score only for Davies to be held up on the line with a magnificent cover tackle. In fact, in spite of all the play taking place in the Ystrad half, it was the home team who manufactured the first score with a great individual try. A poor Brecon kick was gathered, in his own half, by wing Alex Webber. With time and space, he carried the ball, chipped the defensive line, reclaimed the kick and raced away to score under the posts, giving Lewis Williams the easiest of conversions.

Brecon had to hit back to dent the growing confidence of the opposition. They did but not before further frustration. Two further rolling mauls off line outs failed to reap any reward before Kristian Dacey and Alwyn Lee combined to threaten and win a penalty. This time, with Ystrad down to fourteen men following a yellow card, Brecon scored as Geraint Clarke dotted down off the back of a maul. James Dixon converted to level the scores and then added a penalty to give Brecon a lead which they took into half time.

The second half followed a similar pattern but this time Brecon scored early. Logan McIntosh carried well off the kick off and then a great Dacey bust followed by a Tom Richards’ run should have created a try only for the final pass to be intercepted. But, the score came as Geraint Clarke again broke through the defence. His advance was haled by a tap tackle but he popped up the ball to Sam Jones. Tight in the corner, Sam stepped and dived through the attempted tackle to score.  Brecon’s travelling support now felt that their team could kick on and comfortably take the honours but that was underestimating Ystrad. They battled and made life difficult for their visitors. Finally, however, pressure told. A great Dixon 50/22 kick gave Brecon a line out deep in the home 22. A short throw to the front and a well set maul allowed Kristian Dacey, who had a very influential game, to score, and Dixon converted from wide out.

Brecon should now have been looking for a try bonus point but instead Ystrad hit back. They put Brecon under severe pressure for the first time. Brecon surrendered a penalty in their 22 and were penalised with a Yellow Card. Ystrad capitalised and Callum Davies scored a try which Williams converted. When Brecon conceded a second Yellow card the final minutes were tense and there was a genuine sense of relief mixed with that of achievement as with the final play, Brecon’s depleted scrum won a penalty deep in their 22. A tap and a kick to touch delivered the victory that has evaded them for so many years.

With Brecon now having a week’s break before they face Newbridge in the second round of the Premiership Cup, at Parc de Pugh on Saturday 26^th October, there is time to pause, take stock and fully prepare for another huge challenge in a season full of challenges. With that break the focus will fall on the uneaten Athletic team, that pulled of a creditable 28 points to 28 points draw at Tondu, when they travel to Cardiff to meet Cardiff Met on 19^th October.