Llandovery Youth 5 Brecon Youth 13

IN a pre season friendly at Church Bank, Brecon Youth confirmed the promise of a good season by deservedly beating their Llandovery counterparts writes Huw S Thomas.

On a billiard table smooth pitch - beautifully prepared by groundsman Roger James - the more physical Brecon boys had the edge up front where No 8 Sam Maggs was everywhere in both attack and defence.

Lock Rowan Starkey was another key man with his work at line out and loose whilst centre Tudor Roderick caught the eye with his straight running and hard tackling.

Llandovery who had the more creative backs suffered from a lack of possession and although there were telling contributions from fly half Ryan Williams, centre Kasper Andreasen and wing Owain Rowlands, the Drovers could not finish some good chances in the latter stages.

Brecon coach Al Taylor was happy at what he saw.

"We were strong and well knit up front but had to work to get the better of a good and young Drovers side," said Taylor.

"We scored a great try but our defence too was on top of its game when Llandovery threatened in the last 10 minutes."

Llandovery coach Stuart Doel was also upbeat.

"There were 12 of the side that were in last year’s U16 side that won the Carms Cup so to challenge a bigger and older opposition will hold us in good stead," said Doel.

"We need better possession for our backs but I’m sure that we will be very competitive when the boys get more experience."

After wing Lewis Watkins was denied a try by the corner flag, Brecon took the lead with a close range try from prop Tom Whitcomb but Llandovery were level at the break when an Andreasen break and smart finish by Rowlands made it 5-5.

Full back Dafydd Evans restored the Brecon lead with a penalty before Maggs made a wonderful cover tackle to stop Llandovery wing Yoke Price in full flight.

A fine counter attack led by replacement Gareth Price and finished by the impressive Evans pushed the Powys side 13-5 ahead but the Drovers found a new lease of life at the end.

Brecon had to defend for their lives and to their credit did so, helped by Llandovery failing to exploit some clear overlaps in a hectic finale.