Brecon returned to WRU Premiership action on Saturday, hoping to secure their first win of the season against Cardiff Met. After a two-week break and with several players returning to the squad, optimism was high during pre-match preparations.

Brecon started positively, matching the pace and precision of the students on the fast 4G surface. The first try came through a well-worked move, with Sam Jones gathering a clearing kick and breaking down the right. When he was finally on the 22, the ball was recycled quickly across the backline, allowing left wing Chad Davies to finish in space. Full-back Jake Newman added a neat touchline conversion to give Brecon an early lead.

However, Cardiff Met responded immediately. Winning a penalty and lineout in the Brecon 22, they set up a maul and drove over for a converted try, levelling the scores. The opening half then followed a familiar pattern for Brecon this season: after working hard to create opportunities, mistakes and penalties allowed the opposition to regain momentum.

Brecon created several promising chances. A lineout in the Met 22 was stolen, a 5-metre lineout was lost, and a charged-down kick from Geraint Workman was called back for offside. The Met capitalised, scoring a converted try from a tap penalty. Another lost Brecon lineout then led to a penalty within sight of the posts and the Met extended their lead.

Despite the setbacks, Brecon’s backline showed promise. Rhys Davies, making his first start at outside half, kicked and distributed well and posed a running threat. Joel Price and Connor Pavett impressed at centre, while wings Sam Jones and Chad Davies were consistently dangerous. Jake Newman provided a reliable presence at full-back. Yet Cardiff Met continued to punish mistakes, adding a further score to go into the break 17 points ahead.

The second half began with renewed intensity and a 50/22 kick from Newman set up a maul. When that was held, Brecon moved the ball into midfield and Rhys Davies broke through the final tackle to score, with Newman converting, narrowing the gap to 10 points. However, the first half pattern repeated itself. Brecon failed to claim the kick-off and were subsequently penalised. Now the story was familiar - a kick to a 5-metre lineout, catch, drive and score.

The Met scored again, this time from with a flowing move out wide, but Brecon showed resilience, hitting back with a try from Sam Jones in the corner and a bonus-point interception score from Tom Richards.

Unfortunately, Cardiff Met closed the game with a final try, capitalising on a Brecon yellow card.

The defeat marked Brecon’s fourth loss from four matches, but coaches Kristian Dacey, Matthew Trowbridge, and Adam Powell remained positive. In their debrief, the coaches stressed the need to avoid compounding errors that give away territory and points. Positively, there were periods of very good rugby, and the key message was clear: the team must believe in themselves, maintain momentum, and keep pressure on opponents instead of offering easy scoring opportunities through mistakes or penalties.

On a brighter note for Brecon, the Athletic XV posted a bonus-point win at Old Penarthians and now top Division 5 East Central. Both teams will be in action at Parc de Pugh next Saturday for a double-header against Merthyr and Treherbert.