The first game of any new competitive league season is always vitally important. It is the first opportunity to measure the progress that has been made during the pre-season in a fully competitive match. While warm up matches have been part of that pre-season process this is the first time there is the pressure of wanting, or needing, to accumulate league points which will ultimately determine the success or failure of the season. For Brecon, as they faced Pontypool United at Parc de Pugh, there was added external pressure. Having brought in a new coaching team with a declared aim of delivering success a positive result was critical. Therefore, the pre match aim was undoubtedly to start with first; a win, then to add a bonus point, and finally to show that players have started adapted to new structures and patterns of play. As the final whistle sounded two of those goals had clearly been achieved. Brecon ended the game with a bonus point win. The final aim was less clearly delivered. At times Brecon moved the ball at pace with forwards and backs linking effectively to create openings and to score four excellent tries. However, they were not consistent. At times their high-risk strategy of keeping the ball alive with ball in hand and looking for offloads worked beautifully but small errors when confronted by committed, “in your face” opponents allowed Pontypool United to exert pressure in home territory. In response to that pressure Brecon fell foul of the referee’s interpretation of the law. They conceded a total of twelve penalties, a yellow card, a red card and a penalty try. The fact that in spite of those statistics they ended up with a victory and five points emphasised the desire and potential that exists within the team. It gives the coaching team of Dale McIntosh, Gavin Dacey, Owen Sheppeard and Darren Harris plenty to work on and with the continued support of the players the outlook for the season looks very positive.
Within the overall good team performance there were some individuals who stood out. Tight Head prop Richie Davies deservedly won the Man of the Match award. He played almost the full 80 minutes in one of the most demanding roles on the field. He was solid in the scrum and carried, supported and handled brilliantly in the loose. Sam Hellard on the wing continued to show the promise he has displayed in warm up matches. His running was elusive and he looked for work. Jake Crockett either at full back or in mid-field was constantly a thorn in the Pontypool side as regularly beat the first line of defence and it was his great break at the climax of the game that led to the bonus point try. Alwyn Lee in the 2nd row, while fully fit, played a massive role within the pack. He won lineout ball both on his and opposition ball. He also tackled and drove impressively.
Brecon’s start to the game was disappointing. There were some good promising phases but also some warning signs. Brecon ran the ball from deep in their half. The lovely flowing move was brought to a halt as the ball was intercepted and it took a great Ioan Edwards tackle to halt the Pontypool attack. Under pressure Brecon conceded three consecutive penalties and finally a driving maul off a 5 metre line out led to a try and gave Pontypool the early lead.
Brecon responded with a great passage of play set up by a Crockett counter attack. With Pontypool defence stretched centre Eifion Jones delivered a lovely cross field kick which Sam Hellard just failed to gather with the line undefended in front of him. Sadly, after a promising start Eifion Jones was forced to leave the field with an injury.
Having first threatening to score Brecon duly completed the task after a period of pressure. Pontypool held out for a while but after a Crockett break Ioan Edwards took up the attack and put Richie Davies through for a try which Dion McIntosh converted to give Brecon the lead.
Brecon looked as if they could build on this lead, but again they were hampered by conceding a further three penalties. Pontyool threatened particularly through their driving maul when near the Brecon line but Brecon’s defence held and a great turn over penalty lifted the pressure. For a period then Brecon showed their best side. Some great handling and continuity almost led to a try when impressive hooker Aneurin James almost carried to the line after a Sam Hellard break. The ball was recycled and scrum half Geraint Workman drew the defence before feeding Logan McIntosh. The Number 8’s pace and power allowed him to crash over the line for the try.
For the remainder of the half Brecon showed flashes of brilliance and the scrum became a dominant force but the last passes failed to stick and the half ended with Brecon holding a seven-point lead.
The second half started with Brecon facing a stiffening gusty wind. The wind started to play its part in proceedings, not so much in giving Pontypool an advantage but affecting Brecon’s line out as they went for long throws in attacking positions only to see the ball overshoot its target or to be carried not straight by the wind. They did create opportunities but they were not clinical until they extended their advantage with an excellent try. Centre Ollie Lewis made great ground having cut a lovely angle off a clever Dion McIntosh pass. The ball was quickly moved left and good hands put Morgan Price over.
Now with a twelve-point lead Brecon should have taken control of the game but mistakes lead to a Pontypool comeback and a nervous final quarter. They squandered an opportunity down the right flank when, what should have been a simple two on one, ended with a poor forward pass. Then things turned dramatically against Brecon. Another penalty was followed by a yellow card for scrum half Geraint Workman. That was almost immediately followed by a mass brawl. In the aftermath Logan Mcintosh was shown a red card after he ran in to defend one of his team mates who was being set upon by two opponents. His charge into the melee was deemed dangerous and he left with Brecon now down to thirteen men. Brecon again conceded a penalty in their 22 and finally the referee awarded Pontypool a penalty try.
With minutes remaining Brecon were just one try short of the bonus point but worryingly down to thirteen men and with just a five-point lead. There were some anxious faces amongst the supporters but the players responded in the best way possible. Prop Iwan Dowling Jones effected a great turn over and put Brecon on the attack. As the final whistle approached Brecon had a scrum on the Pontypool 22 in the centre of the field. Although depleted the scrum held and Crockett made a clean break before linking with Sam Hellard who ran in the try which McIntosh converted. The final whistle came to the delight of the Brecon contingent and the dismay of a battling Pontypool side who in that final moment lost what would have been a deserved losing bonus point.
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