SWALEC WRU Plate Competition Round one

Penarth 12 Brecon 30

WITH the quarter finals of the World Cup being played later in the day, Brecon travelled to Penarth for an early kick off.

With an ever mounting injury list and a reshuffled team, Brecon, accompanied by a small had full of supporters entered in to a challenging match hoping to gain some confidence after a difficult start to Division one life.

Brecon started the game well with their first attacking move of the afternoon producing a superb score. Blake Parata, playing his first game for the club at scrum half, whipped the ball away, drawing outside half Gari Davies onto the pass. A perfectly times pass to Eifion Jones who, at pace split the defence, drew the final defender and passed to full back Jake Newman who had an unopposed run into the line.

Gari Davies comfortably converted as he did throughout the afternoon kicking three penalties and three conversions amass a points’ total of 15 with a 100% goal kicking display.

The early score lifted the spirits of the visiting team and after the second try followed shortly after, their confidence grew.

Penarth attempted to move the ball wide on halfway but with Brecon’s defensive line up in their faces they spilled the ball. Brecon hacked through and Blake Parata was the first to get to the ball. He hacked on to the line where he gathered and scored.

With two such quick set backs, the Penarth team were visibly rattled but they then caused Brecon some problems. Aided by a breeze, they exerted territorial pressure and were helped by Brecon’s failure to sustain any pressure of their own.

Pinned in their own half, they tried to kick their way out of defence but the kicks didn’t find space and with the chase being slow, the useful Penarth back three easily able to put their team back on the offensive.

Brecon were also not helped by the fact that although Mitch Collacott won great ball at the front of the line, whenever they got into an attacking position and threw to the back, the ball was overthrown and possession was lost.

Brecon faced a 20 minute period in which they were forced to defend. They did well but eventually pressure told and Penarth scored a try in the corner off a line out drive. This brought Penarth back into contention but Brecon re-gained control and were rewarded with a Davies penalty giving them a 12 point lead at half time.

The second half was mostly dominated by the Brecon side helped by a good scrum with the front row of Ryan Harris, Jim Williams and Jack Herring doing a good job in the tight and being prominent in the loose.

An attack down the left flank almost produced a score with a great run by wing Joey Morgan being halted on the line. Brecon, however were not to be denied and at the next line out Collacott leapt high above everyone and delivered the ball to number eight Cashell Chilvers who broke around the front of the lineout and crossed under the posts.

Despite this score putting Brecon on the road to an easy victory, a habitual failing re-surfaced at the kick off. Nobody seemed to commit themselves to the catch and possession was surrendered. With possession on Brecon’s 22, the home side put together a good passage of play and when a tackle was missed they capitalised and scored a try in the corner, beautifully converted from the touchline.

With the lead now reduced to 12 points, Brecon needed to reassert their superiority. With the scrum going well and Parata prompting the back line, Brecon began to take complete control. Good runs from Rob Price and powerful breaks by Chilvers, well supported by Andrew Hosie, should have all resulted in tries in Brecon just failed to score in spite of Collacott, Hosie and Darren Witcomb all getting to or near the line.Brecon’s reward for their domination was just two Davies penalties.

The fact that they failed to take numerous opportunities will be the main disappointment to an otherwise successful after noon. Another plus, was team manager Darren Witcomb, forced into duty on the bench, made an excellent cameo appearance in the last quarter returning to the field after almost two years out through injury.

This week Brecon travel to Nelson for an important league fixture.