Blaenavon 28 Brecon 10.

PLEASED to be back in league action after recent weather related postponements, Brecon travelled to Blaenavon last Saturday.

Despite hoping to establish a lead early on, Brecon found themselves seven points down within 30 seconds when the Blaenavon winger scored near the posts leaving the conversion a formality.

The nightmare scenario was soon shaken off as Brecon stared to get to grips with the game however their opportunities were limited as the big Blaenavon pack set about an aggressive campaign designed to intimidate their smaller visitors.

Despite spending most of the time on the back foot, they effectively held their opponents at bay.

With Newman using his boot effectively to keep pegging Blaenavon back, Brecon looked to take the lead. A superb piece of combined play involving Rob Price and Dafydd Thomas should have led to a second try but instead Brecon had to be satisfied with a Newman penalty and a three point lead.

Just before half time that lead should have been extended when they were awarded very kickable penalty, only for them to agonisingly see the kick slip past the outside of the post.

The second half did not start as dramatically as did the first but Brecon found themselves defending deep down in their right hand corner after they had been driven off the ball at a scrum on half way. In spite of their spirited efforts, Blaenavon finally broke through and the try was converted.

For most of the second half Brecon never looked likely to overhaul the deficit but they defended doggedly and as time ticked by a losing bonus point looked a possibility.

Unfortunately this soon hope soon evaporated when Jake Newman was carried off the field with a torn hamstring. Then Rob Price, one of the stand-out players in the back line was sent to the sin bin for a tip tackle. Under so much pressure and down to 14 men, Brecon’s re-organised defence finally collapsed.

A desperate attempt to go for an interception with the defence stretched, created a big hole in what had been a watertight mid-field and the home centre broke through to score a try which was converted.

With minutes remaining Brecon heads finally dropped and after a barn storming run by the home full back Brecon let in another try when the Number 8 broke from an advancing scrum and scored the final converted try.