Fixture

Brecon RFC | Youth Team Under 18 19 - 21 Mountain Ash RFC | Youth Team Under 18
Tudor Roderick
Try 1
Ryan Price
Try 1
Dafydd Edwards
Conversion 2
Try 1

Match Report
28 November 2016 / Team News

Old Firm Edge Out Brecon Youth.

The autumn international series has had a significant impact on fixture lists across the rugby clubs of Wales, with the numbers of games in the league and cup structures being reduced. As a result, a number of teams have sought to arrange friendly fixtures to ensure that they gained sufficient game time to maintain momentum in their performances. Brecon youth were no exception in this and, as the senior national team have battled to achieve some successful attacking momentum, so the youth squad were keen to improve their own performance levels.

Despite having enjoyed some recent victories, the squad, and coaching team, were aware that they had let standards slip to a certain extent, and it was therefore with this in mind that they welcomed Mountain Ash to Parc de Pugh on a cold Friday evening. The visitors are traditionally a strong proposition, and the success they have enjoyed in recent years has seen them maintain a regular place in the higher leagues within the Blues region. Brecon were aware that, notwithstanding recent success against teams that were placed higher in the league structure, the visit of the Old Firm provided a challenging opportunity to improve their own performance level.

The early exchanges in the game provided a clear indicator of the task that faced the home team, and also an understanding of the merits of the higher league insomuch as the visitors were very combative, and were particularly impressive and effective at the break down. This is an area that they competed at with great intensity, and the hosts were soon aware of the need to ensure that they too were physical in this phase of the game whilst also being precise in their ball delivery.

It is to the credit of the Brecon squad that they proved to be very much an equal opponent in the game and, as their confidence and awareness grew, they started to develop their own game such that they started to out perform their very able visitors. The forward pack, with Josh Hamilton, Jonny Davies, Harry Preece and Rowan Starkey prominent in the loose, were starting to get the better of their opposite numbers, and the scrum initially proved to be an area where, with Nick Hughes, Rhys Evans, Josh H, and Finn Arnold performing strongly, the hosts enjoyed success.

The middle phase of the first period saw Brecon creating numerous attacking opportunities, with skipper Wil Prosser prominent, and half backs Sammy Hellard and Gareth Price becoming increasingly influential. Centres Ben Kenchington and Tudor Roderick defended stoutly, and ran with great purpose, whilst the back three of wingers Ryan Price and Carl Leeton and fullback Dafydd Edwards were alert to any attacking opportunities. Carl in particular shows that his improved performances of recent times are continuing as he had numerous opportunities with the the ball in hand.

This period of Brecon supremacy needed to be rewarded with points on the scoreboard, and whilst fullback Edwards hit the upright with a penalty attempt from distance, the pressure continued to be applied in terms of territory and possession. One attacking drive in particular went through a number of phases before the impressive Price, spotting the visiting defence flying out of their line, sent a precisely controlled, and perfectly executed chip to the left wing where powerful winger Ryan Price, on the back of some fine recent displays, caught the ball on the full to plunge over the for the first score. A fine touchline conversion by Edwards gave the hosts a lead that could have provided a platform for further success, although the visitors would clearly have a say in that.

The closing phases of the first half saw Mountain Ash build some attacking momentum of their own, particularly through their strong pack with the driving maul becoming increasingly significant in the game. Nevertheless, Brecon defended with great spirit and looked to have repelled the visiting attacks as they moved toward half time, and were awarded a scrum in their own 22 as they turned over possession again.
Frustratingly for the coaches and home supporters, the team, appeared to be moving to the half time huddle in their minds, and they lost concentration such that the once dominant scrum came under pressure, leading to the visitors gaining possession and attacking a home defence on the back foot. This led to space been created from where they touched down for their first score, with the well struck conversion seeing the half time whistle go with the scores level at 7 apiece.
The home coaches would have impressed upon the Brecon team that they had enjoyed periods of superiority against strong opponents, and that they now realised the intensity required to maintain the requisite level to be successful against teams such as this.
The message seemed to have hit the right notes as the Brecon squad enjoyed a hugely impressive period where they showed great commitment in attack and defence, and pressed for further scores. The intensity of the game was also impressive and the visitors showed that the level they play at week-in, week-out, means that, notwithstanding any pressure they came under, they maintained their structure and competitive qualities. Brecon did press strongly in this period and did create a number of chances through a combined team approach. Nevertheless, it took some individual creativity to break the deadlock as centre Roderick took the ball some 30 metres from the line, before stepping twice off the same foot to leave defenders in his wake as he touched down under the posts for a score to add to his prolific tally. Edwards converted to give the hosts a seven point lead as the game moved in to the final quarter.
The visitors were not deterred however, and there were some periods of play that highlighted the differences in the league levels as Brecon seemed to switch off after the scores they had, whereas the visitors used this as motivation to increase their own intensity. From the restart Ash pressed strongly and were able to use their driving platform to gain an equalizing score against the run of play.
Brecon, whilst disappointed at conceding a score that came in part from their own concentration levels, came back immediately and looked increasingly fluent and impressive as the efforts they have put in on the training paddock started to come to fruition under pressure in the game. One move in particular saw a fine move off first phase see the ball moved creatively, and with intent, through a number of pairs of hands before full back Edwards was released into space to run in from 30 metres for a score that he was unable to add the extras to. The significance of this score was the realisation of the differing attacking options that are available to the squad, both in terms of a narrow direct approach, and also the ability to successfully implement a wider game plan.
Additionally, the coaching team were keen to give opportunities to players on the bench, and a number of replacements were made that did nothing to lessen the level of team performance. Tom Witcomb, Finn Starkey, Geraint Workman, Josh Pritchard, Kian Davies, Steve Hughes, and Fraser Thomas all added quality to the performance.
The frustration was, again, the tendency to lose concentration following a period of successful play, and this enabled the visitors to snatch a score late on that was converted to give them a 21-19 lead that they were able to defend to the final whistle.
The home group will have taken a number of positives from their performance, and it was a significant improvement on recent games. Nevertheless, they will have a certain frustration in realizing that this is a game that they could, if not should, have won. They will realise that they need to continue to work hard at the breakdown area, ensuring that those arriving do so effectively, and that the ball carrier is precise in the tackle. They have shown a great work ethic so far this season and continued improvement will no doubt follow from this. 
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