Fixture

Brecon RFC | 1st Team 20 - 0 Nelson RFC | 1st Team
Jake Crockett
Try 1
Jake Mitchell Newman
Conversion 2
Penalty 2
Dan Edwards
Try 1

Match Report
22 February 2016 / Team News

Brecon 20 - Nelson 0

The fact that the game survived the weather was a miracle. During one of the wettest winters on record two teams trooped out onto Parc de Pugh, Nelson on Black and Red and Brecon in Red and White. By half time Brecon were forced to change into their Green and White strip but by the end of the game almost everybody was in Brown, the same colour as most of the pitch. Most of the pitch is an accurate description as with a strong wind driving the rain down the pitch from the town end inevitable most of the match was played at the far end where the grass disappeared under a sea of mud. It was hardly surprising that knock on’s became increasingly more frequent as match started with a ball which quickly became a bar of soap and ended up being a greasy bar of soap. Much to the players credit they managed to deliver an entertaining match in spite of the adverse conditions.

In the reverse fixture earlier in the season Brecon suffered a heavy defeat, 43 points to 17 but with renewed confidence following two wins in their two previous league matches Brecon targeted this match as one win in order to maintain the gap between them and chasing pack of clubs in the relegation zone. The weather, however, hardly helped Brecon’s cause as they faced what was obviously destined to be a game influenced by the power of the packs. In early season matches Brecon struggled in the tight phases of the game but their pack has shown great improvement in recent outings and that improvement was clear to see as they produced the performance of the season to date to see off the challenge of worthy opponents, Nelson.

The pack, as a unit, was outstanding and the forwards were well supported by some excellent kicking by outside half Jake Newman, great defensive qualities of centres Rob Price and Eifion Jones and the poaching skills of wing Jake Crockett. Within that pack the front row of Gareth Owens, Gareth Way and Ryan Harris held the upper hand in the scrummage. Second rows, Danny Howe and Lyndon Bateman complimented one another brilliantly with Danny roving and carrying in the wider spaces while Bateman drove in the tight areas to great effect. The back row showed similar symmetry. Davey Herdman crashed through and cut down everything in his path, Daffydd Thomas was constantly in the faces of his opponents and Ewan Williams showed great footballing skills and wonderful handling skills in the most testing of conditions.

Playing into the wind Brecon started brilliantly, carrying well and putting their opponents under severe pressure. They had opportunities to score but just failed to take those fleeting chances. That failure looked as if it may be costly when from a mistake they presented Nelson with territory. A dropped pass on the Brecon 22, when under no pressure, allowed their opponents to set up a series of attacks within sight of the try line. This period was critical and Brecon showed great resolve in denying their opponents who were prompted by their excellent scrum half and No 8. Two driving line outs were repelled as were two 5 metre scrums and when Brecon were deservedly awarded a relieving penalty everyone anticipated a short period of relief. Not in anyone’s wildest dreams was the next scenario anticipated. From deep inside his 22 and in centre field Jake Newman kicked for touch. The ball first hung in the wind and then started to drift back only to bounce up into the arms of chasing wing Jake Crockett. Collecting the ball at full tilt on the 10 metre line he streaked past everyone to score under the posts for Newman to convert.

If that first score of Brecon’s was to say the least, unexpected, the next which followed in rapid time was nothing but brilliant. Ewan Williams carried the ball at the defensive line before popping up a subline short flat pass to onrushing Davey Herdman. He cut right through the heart of the defence and when faced by the full back delivered a lovely scoring pass to Dan Edwards who had read the play brilliantly. He galloped over under the posts and Newman converted for a second time.

14 points to nil up while having played for 23 minutes into the wind was a great return for the Brecon team but now the remaining 17 minutes of the half was critical. With the wind behind them Nelson threw everything into the attack. They came close on a number of occasions but each time some heroic tackling kept them out and when the half time whistle came Brecon undoubtedly left the field the far happier of the two sodden teams.

By the time the second half started conditions had deteriorated even further.  The pitch had cut up and now what had been testing conditions became almost impossible. Hard carrying, short passes and well directed kicking became the only means by which forward momentum could be maintained. Brecon adapted well and Newman soon extended Brecon’s lead with a penalty. From there on, however, the game became attritional. Anything more expansive was destined for failure as long passes either missed their targets or were dropped. Nelson defended brilliantly under the severest of pressure and made the occasional sorties into the still green patches in the Brecon half. However, with the wind in their favour and a lead which was extended to 20 points when Newman hit his second penalty, there could now only be one winner. Although no further points were scored, Brecon left the field delighted, that they reaped the reward for an outstanding effort in the worst of conditions. 

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