Fixture

The journey to Abercwmboi was full of expectation for Brecon supporters and players as they set out to retain the Mid District Bowl after having won the inaugural competition in May 2013. That was a splendid occasion and everyone wanted to taste that success once again. There was reason to be confident. Brecon had faced Wattstown twice previously this season in the League. Both games were close affairs with the honours being equally shared with one win apiece. Brecon’s win, however, had come just two months earlier when they had travelled to Wattstown and come away with a narrow victory. While there was anticipation, there was also the realisation that Wattstown were formidable opponents and the result would depend on who took their opportunities and who made the least number of errors.

The evening was perfect for rugby. The weather was calm and the playing surface firm. A large crowd lined the touchlines and the scene was set for classic encounter. The early exchanges were typical of a Cup match.

The tempo of the game was high as both teams strove to impose themselves on their opponents. Tackling was fierce and every breakdown was sternly contested. Burly Wattstown centre Dano Roberts was the first to make a mark as he cut through mid-field on a dangerous run. The cover defence finally snuffed out the threat and some great work at the breakdown by Brecon’s back row trio of Wyn Davies, Davey Herdman and Tom Daley won first, a turnover and then a penalty. For much of the half this combination proved a thorn in the flesh of the powerful Wattstown team. Whenever the ball was moved wide they were quicker and sharper at the breakdown and won a number of turnovers and allowed Brecon to go through the phases.

At this stage, although the game was tight, Brecon had the edge in terms of territory and possession. Breaking down the opponents defence, however, proved to be a problem. Realising that their ascendancy needed to be rewarded with points Gari Davies took the pragmatic approach and neatly dropped a goal after a number of phases had failed to open the Wattstown defence.

Strangely Brecon were less than pragmatic when their next opportunity arose. While trying to run the ball out of defence Wattstown almost threw away all their hard work when Wyn Davies intercepted and almost made the try line. Desperate defence held him up close to the line but Wattstown conceded a penalty under the posts. Surprisingly Brecon went for a scrum rather than taking the points. That decision badly backfired as scrum half Jack Foulkes managed to disrupt the pick-up and the base of the scrum and clear the danger.

That lost opportunity in a close game seemed costly at the time and ultimately proved even more significant. For a long period following the incident Brecon looked to play at pace and with width. Rob Price, on his return to mid-field after a long injury lay-off, made a number of powerful breaks in the centre but the Wattstown cover defence was very effective and the line was rarely threatened.

Wattstown, after coming off second best in the early attempts to play a wider game, now reverted to more of a close driving game using their powerful forwards and being prompted by Roberts in mid-field. For time this was effective in slowing the game but the game again swung in Brecon’s favour after a great counterattacking run by wing Ryan James. The momentum of the attack was stopped illegally and again Brecon chose the brave option. With the penalty, wider out this time, they went for a line out in the corner. Danny Howe, who worked hard throughout the match, displayed great athletic ability in the line out, won the ball and set up the maul. Against bulkier opponents the maul made ground and finally hooker Aaron Horne, who in his first season out of youth rugby, broke off and planted the ball firmly over the try line. Gari Davies converted to give Brecon a ten point advantage.

Wattstown were rattled but rallied. They put Brecon under pressure but the defence was secure and when Wyn Davies stole the ball and then gave Brecon a scrum put in on the twenty two prior to the last play of the half perhaps minds turned towards the break a little too soon. Inexplicably Brecon lost the ball against the head and with the and Wattstown scrum half Jack Foulkes scampered away from the flat footed defence he drew Ryan James and passed to his unmarked wing who just squeezed in at the corner. Although the conversion failed the deficit had been halved and Wattstown entered the half time break in far better mood than had been anticipated.

The second half started badly for Brecon. The kick off went out on the full and Wattstwon were handed the initiative. Immediately they showed a different approach to the game. Most of the play was kept close to the breakdown with the blind side figuring regularly as a favoured line of attack. Instead of trying to play their way out of trouble they now kicked accurately and Dano Roberts figured regularly both as a line breaker and an offensive kicker. Brecon were pegged back but kept their shape and with Ryan James, Steve Jackson and Gwyn Pengelly making great tackles their opponents were denied the opportunity to score in spite of their territorial advantage.

Suddenly Wattstown seemed to have been given a golden opportunity. Danny Howe was caught retaliating after being blatantly struck alongside a maul. He was dispatched to the sin bin and his team were put under pressure facing an attacking scrum in their twenty two. The response was magnificent. The scrum held and when Wattstown dropped the ball under pressure Jake Crockett hacked the ball up-field and only a wicked bounce denied the opportunity of a score. Although that chance was lost Brecon won a penalty and Gari Davies extended the lead.

Almost immediately Wattstown struck back with a penalty of their own and the game was finely balanced. When Danny Howe returned to the fray the five point advantage remained intact but it was a slender lead when Wattstown were now controlling play.

Brecon needed to break out and retain possession through a number of phases but they made too many mistakes when they did gain possession. One long break out almost let to a try but Wattstown scrambled the ball away. Although territory was gained events turned against the defending cup holders. A knock on at an attacking line out led to a scrum which Brecon drove back and when the referee whistled for a penalty everyone anticipated an opportunity for Gari Davies to strike what most likely would have been a winning score. Instead the referee penalised the Brecon front row for driving their opponents up. Wattstown seized their opportunity and again returned to Brecon territory.

Brecon held for a while but with time running out Wattstown again effectively worked their way down the blind side and wing Mike Tinson dived through the corner flag and across the try line. There was a long debate between the referee and his assistant before the tension was broken when they awarded the try. Although the conversion failed the scores were tied but Wattstown had the advantage by scoring two tries to Brecon’s one.

In what time remained Brecon gave all they had but it wasn’t enough as Wattstown maintained their second half superiority and closed out the game to mark what has for them been a meteoric rise for a club with a relatively short history