Following a two-week break after their victory over Cardiff Met, Brecon were faced with the daunting task of travelling to Merthyr, writes Ron Rowsell.

Now, just beyond the mid-point of the season, Merthyr are in a good position to challenge for the Premiership title, with just one defeat from their 14 matches, and for the Premiership Cup, where they will face Neath in the final. If that wasn’t a sufficient challenge in itself, the memory of their last encounter at the Wern - a 78–7 defeat - would hardly have inspired confidence in the large group of Brecon supporters as they travelled across Y Bannau.

That crowd was augmented by parents and players of Brecon’s Under 8 team, who took the field against their Merthyr opponents in a curtain-raiser. As the main match unfolded, there was a range of emotions, with the excitement of the youngsters adding to the atmosphere.

Brecon started brilliantly and took an early lead. Merthyr then hit back and, with dominance at the scrum, looked as if they might run away with the game as they claimed five tries before Brecon responded with one of their own just prior to the half-time whistle.

The second half was an entirely different affair. In his post-match assessment, head coach Kristian Dacey praised his charges, stating: “Five or six weeks ago we would have folded before half-time, but now we have improved both in terms of confidence and belief and we stayed in the fight. We won that second half and deservedly claimed a try-scoring bonus point. We played some great rugby and the challenge now is to show the same quality for the full match.”

A great rugby afternoon it indeed was. On a dry, sunny, spring-like afternoon both sides set out to play expansive rugby. A total of ten tries were scored, Merthyr claiming six and Brecon four, with Merthyr taking the spoils, 40–26.

The match both started and finished with statements of mutual respect. That was clear during a minute’s silence in memory of John Davies, father of Osian. Osian grew up playing rugby for Brecon before establishing himself as an outstanding Merthyr flanker, prior to his return to the Brecon fold. Then, at the end of a competitive, attractive match which brought the best out of both teams, there was genuine respect for each other. For the Brecon players and coaches, that respect was particularly pleasing as it had been earned through their tenacity, resilience and the quality of their play, particularly during the second half and against a very good Merthyr team.

Brecon certainly started well. They pressurised the Merthyr defence and a rushed attempted clearance was charged down. It looked as if excellent Brecon centre Rhys Davies touched down first, but the referee was unsighted and awarded Brecon a scrum on the five-metre line. Scrum-half Geraint Workman moved the ball quickly and Rhys Davies was held just short. From the ruck, the ball was moved to second row Chad Thomas, who committed the defence and then popped up a lovely offload to partner Alwyn Lee. Alwyn broke the final tackle and scored the opening try.

Beneath the posts, the Merthyr captain spoke to the players: “These boys have come to play. We have to lift our game and be at our best.”

As a team they responded well, but Brecon will be kicking themselves for allowing the next score. Merthyr won a penalty and went for a line-out in the corner. From the line-out their big pack set their maul but were held and finally driven into touch. After half a season where teams have regularly scored in similar situations, this single action showed how much Brecon have improved in critical areas.

The next action, however, was disappointing. Having earned a line-out, the ball was overthrown and taken at the back by Merthyr’s Ryan Hughes, who had a simple scoring task. Jacob Lloyd converted to give Merthyr the lead.

Their next score reflected a pattern that was now beginning to develop. Brecon’s scrum was put under severe pressure and Merthyr earned one of a number of penalties at this phase. They gained territory and imposed pressure on the defence, which held until Brecon were forced to make a rushed clearance. With time and space, Merthyr finally broke the Brecon defence as scrum-half Daf Land ran in under the posts.

They extended that lead when Brecon’s scrum was again severely tested near their line and the referee awarded a penalty try. That scrum dominance forced Brecon onto the back foot and, with Merthyr running everything, they created opportunities out wide. Outstanding wing Kodie Stone capitalised with two great finishes, gaining Merthyr a bonus point and a 33–5 lead.

Brecon were looking down a dark tunnel but hit back before the half-time break. The build-up to the score was outstanding. Scrum-half Geraint Workman made good ground from a quickly taken tap penalty. Then second rows Alwyn Lee and Chad Thomas again showed great offloading skills to allow prop Iwan Dowling-Jones to burst through the final defence and score, with Jake Newman converting.

As the second half started, it became clear that the breeze and sun, now at Brecon’s backs, were factors that perhaps had not been as evident during the first half. Brecon took the game to Merthyr and should have scored. A Chad Davies run created space and a player was put clear, only for the ball to be dropped with the line begging.

However, with the scrum settling, Brecon started to operate with front-foot ball. Huw Jones and Tom Richards threatened down the right and Joel Price had a good run down the left, but it was Merthyr who scored next. Their kick out of defence took a wicked bounce and fell straight into the arms of full-back Jack Katrins, who ran in for a try.

Brecon were taken aback but their response was impressive. Tom Richards again threatened and, when required, the defence was outstanding. Finally, they got what they deserved. Ioan Edwards and Osian Davies combined to win a turnover. They put Merthyr under pressure and again Alwyn Lee got close before Dowling-Jones repeated his first-half effort with a bulldozing try.

Brecon deservedly closed out the game with their fourth try to earn a bonus point. A quickly taken tap penalty created space and captain Jake Newman broke clear to score and add his third conversion of the afternoon, ending a great fighting comeback which showed the progress the team is making.

The task for Brecon now is to take that second-half performance into their next two critical home games against Ystrad and Newbridge, and to ensure they maintain that accuracy throughout the full eighty minutes.

At Parc de Pugh, the Athletic team pulled off a record-breaking win as they swept opponents Cardiff Saracens away with an eighteen-try, 116–12 victory.