By Ron Rowsell
THE year 2017 brought unprecedented success for Brecon RFC’s Youth and two senior teams.
The youth team in particular hold pride of place for their outstanding achievement during the season 2016/17. Winning a cup or League title would be cause for celebration. You can, therefore, imagine the celebrations associated with a unique treble success in being crowned League Champions, Heart of Wales Cup Winners and Breconshire Cup Winners.
While all three victories were outstanding achievements the one that probably stands out more than any other was the victory in the Heart of Wales Cup over Mountain Ash. Never before have a Brecon Youth side been hailed as Cup Winners, in this competition. The previous year they reached the final where they lost heavily to a powerful Mountain Ash team. This time they turned the tables and added the icing to a season which also brought Blues Youth League and Breconshire Cup glory.
Facing a new season in September was quite a challenge for the management and coaching team of Tom Jones (team manager) and coaches Huw Phillips, Alan Taylor and Andrew Lewis. Not only did they have the success of the previous season to live up to but they also had to integrate a group of new, young players into the squad to fill the holes left by influential captain Will Prosser and a number of others who moved on to senior rugby. When the season opened this was obviously quite a challenge. The first league game was lost to a powerful Treorchy team but that reverse did not dent confidence and the team has developed both in terms of general play and results. Since that early reverse they have remained unbeaten in the league and still have ambitions to challenge for the League title again, as well as pursuing a successful run in Cup competitions. Those who have followed the team in recent matches will know that those ambitions are certainly credible.
The 1st XV started the year with a far more conservative goal for the remainder of the 2016/17 season. The ambitions at the start of the season had been dented by a number of disappointing results. By the end of December 10 league matches had been played with just four wins and 6 defeats one of which included an 88 points to 12 drubbing at home to Penallta.
The new goal at the start of the year was to survive. To the credit of the team management, coaches and players that goal was easily surpassed as the team were a resurgent outfit after the turn of the year. Eight wins were recorded from the 12 league matches and the team were finally placed 5th, their highest ever National League position.
Changes were made to the coaching staff in June in preparation for the forthcoming season. Andy Powel was brought in to join Martin Keylock as team coach, Alan Witcomb, Rugby Director and Darren Witcomb, team manager. With Andy’s International experience now added to a developing team there was considerable pre-season optimism. Little, however, prepared anyone, apart from possibly Andy himself, for the way the team set about the new campaign. A bonus point away win was achieved in the opening game and that set the scene for what was to follow. Now at the end of the year, ten league matches have been played with 9 wins and just one reverse away from home, against league leaders Brynmawr, who they now trail at the top of the league by just one point. Everyone is eagerly awaiting the turn of the year and the second half of what is developing into an outstanding season.
The second team, not to be outdone, also contributed to the Club’s overall success. While to some extent they are the Cinderella team of the club they fulfil a vital role in developing players. This role they accomplish season after season under the guidance of Lyn Parry, Andrew Williams and Jason Rooza. In addition to this fundamental achievement they also succeeded in a more tangible form by winning their Rhondda and East Glamorgan League and reaching the final of the Cup where they lost in a closely fought battle against Penallta.
Now at the end of 2017 Brecon RFC is looking forward to the New Year. There will be many challenges on the way but the foundations have been laid for long term success and there is an air of optimism within all sections of the Club.