Brecon entered their final pre-season match knowing that they needed to boost their confidence following their heavy defeat against Newport.

But travelling to Beddau was never going to be easy. The home side just missed out on promotion to the Premiership at the end of last season and as a result would be determined to show newly-promoted Brecon that they could easily have joined them at that level.

The Brecon management was also aware that Beddau are always a difficult team to beat on their own patch and there was some sense of relief as the autumnal, overnight weather relented and the clouds rolled away as the afternoon approached. As a result playing conditions were good, apart from a gusty wind that favoured the team playing down the slope of the Mount Pleasant Park pitch.

Brecon started the game with that advantage, something that favoured the young team selection. 

After an impressive debut, off the bench the previous week, last season’s youth players Huw and Aled Jones were selected in the starting line-up at outside centre and left wing respectively. Others who made a first appearance in a Brecon shirt were scrum half Joe Parkin and second row Callum Bradberry while the likes of second row Ben Siers, flanker James Roberts, hooker Geraint Clarke, scrum half Sean Horobin, and wing Chad Davies were all given the opportunity to build on their debut performances of the previous week. With other more senior players held back this was a great opportunity for players to show what they have to offer and what they need to learn.

At the end of the afternoon the overall assessment would have been that Brecon thoroughly deserved their four-try victory over a side looking to play rugby. At first phase they were strong. The line-out, which failed to function the previous week, was much improved. Callum Bradberry added athleticism and security in the middle of the line-out while Ben Sier was a safe option at the front, and the back row of Matthew Williams, Ioan Edwards and Logan McIntosh who were also good in all other aspects of the game, won good ball at the back. If there was a failing then it was that, in a difficult wind, a number of long balls were overthrown, something that will be worked on as training builds towards the start of the season.

The scrum was secure throughout and at times dominant, particularly during one period in the first half when the front row of Iwan Dowling Jones, Sam May and Geraint Clarke won penalty after penalty on the home five-metre line. If there was a disappointing feature it was that Brecon failed to score, in spite of all that pressure.

Another pleasing feature was Brecon’s defence. Although Brecon generally controlled territory and possession, Beddau, when they did have the chance, looked lively and dangerous. They found, however, that they faced a solid and secure defence which allowed them few opportunities. When they did score, in the final third, it came when their scrum half dived in for a try as a follow up to a driving maul near the Brecon line. At that point they reduced Brecon’s lead to 12 points and one wondered if they would mount a comeback, but Brecon’s fitness showed as they dominated the final phases of the game and deservedly scored the final try when wing Ryan Davies cut through beautifully to score under the posts.

Perhaps on the debit side was the fact that Brecon were not as clinical as they would have wished. They created several opportunities that, on another day and against stronger opponents, must be grasped. They did, however, score three good tries in addition to the Davies final effort.

The first came when Beddau tried to run out of defence in the face of a defensive line that closed them down quickly. A desperate pass was inevitably picked off by hard working number eight Logan McIntosh and he cantered through for the opening, and only try, of the first third. The next try came after a great Ollie Lewis burst in midfield. It set up an attacking line-out which Brecon won, set the maul and drove for hooker Aneurin James to score. James then scored the third. After some great handling, in which impressive wing Chad Davies featured, Aneurin appeared wide out on the wing and raced in to score a try which any hooker would have been proud of.

Now with two weeks before the season kicks off, with an away trip to Newbridge, the team management will have a number of things to work on and to consider. Apart from those previously mentioned, a number of players put their hands up for consideration.

Second row, Rhodri Jenkins came on off the bench and was prominent in the loose. Jake Newman directed and controlled things well at 10 while off the bench his half back partner Geraint Workman was lively as always. Centre Thomas Richards featured in a brief cameo in which he looked dangerous, only to sustain an injury, which hopefully is not too serious. Geraint Walsh at full back was secure and creative with ball in hand. Ben Pritchard also featured briefly in the second row after a long break over the summer.

With other senior members, including captain Alwyn Lee, props Lewis Smout and Andy Nicholl, centre Jack Dixon and wing Sam Jones either not available or not used on Saturday, there is healthy competition for a first team place for the match at Newbridge, a venue where Brecon have never won. Breaking that duck would certainly be a boost at the start of what is a history-making season for Brecon RFC.