AFTER an important away win at Risca last weekend, Brecon RFC’s survival in Division one is guaranteed with three home games remaining.
The result on Saturday was certainly positive. Brecon started brightly and took an early lead when Rob Price at full back pounced on a chip ahead. He took the ball at pace and carved his way through the advancing opponents to score near the posts. Newman converted.
For a while Brecon held the lead then old failings offered up a score to their opponents. A driving maul set Brecon back on their heels and when the ball was finally moved a flat pass in midfield put full back Ben Pesci through a yawning gap to score a converted try.
A great Jake Newman kick off allowed Brecon to contest for the ball and when Risca infringed Newman kicked the penalty and within no time at all kicked his second.
While the scrum functioned very well, the line out proved to be a disaster. Brecon could hardly win any possession at this phase and continually offered up possession to their opponents. Yet in spite of lack of possession at this important phase, Brecon took control of the game as a result of hard work at the breakdown and some creative running from the backs.
In the second quarter Brecon extended their lead when Ewan Williams made a great catch and fed scrum half Adam Hoskins. He made a lovely break before delivering the final pass to Gari Davies who went over for the try.
Davies soon added a second try when he picked up a loose ball on half way and stormed away to score. Newman again converted and Brecon were 27 points to seven up.
Risca were first to score in the second half when Owain Biddiscombe kicked a penalty only for Newman to reply in kind. Brecon then gifted a try from the kick off.
Risca second row Jordon Hughes was allowed to catch the kick off uncontested and eventually lively scrum half Rhys Meredith scored in the corner. He also scored his second try when Brecon surrendered a good attacking position and from an uncontested scrum on Brecon’s five metre line Meredith went over again.
Brecon needed to check the Risca momentum and they did thanks to some great work by Davey Herdman. He stole the ball at a breakdown made ground and fed out to Hoskins on the wide right. His cross kicked was beautifully caught by Gari Davies who then stepped around the stretched defence to score his third try. Newman again converted.
With a fifteen point lead and 10 minutes to go Brecon were surely safe. Or were they? Again Brecon conceded a score from the kick off. Then when from a driving line out they scored again to bring them to within five points alarm bells started to ring. Fortunately Brecon re-grouped and held out for a bonus point win which ended any relegation fears.