After two defeats so far this season, Brecon secured a bonus point victory at Cross Keys at the weekend.

One of the factors that helped Brecon claim their first victory was the improvement in the consistency of their kicking game. Outside half Jake Newman, full back Geraint Walsh and scrum half Geraint Workman, gained good ground with a range of kicks.

Although the game didn’t start in the way that Brecon would have wished.

Cross Keys exerted early pressure and within five minutes had taken the lead when centre Adam Tetley hit his first successful penalty. This was the first of his five successful penalty kicks. Newman kicked four of his own.

The penalties reflected the stop-start nature of the game, with the referee regularly penalising both teams, with a high proportion being related to perceived high tackles.

After Newman had levelled scores with a penalty, Brecon would soon score their first try.

The score was initially set up with a Newman 50/22. Off the line-out Tomos Davies cut a great angle and Jack Dixon and Logan McIntosh combined to check the defence in midfield before the ball was moved wide to right wing Sam Jones. He broke on the outside before his inside pass found left wing Ryan Davies who crashed over for his third try of the season.

Following an exchange of penalties between Tetley and Newman, Brecon extended their lead. Brecon pressured the home line-out and won a penalty which was put into touch five metres out. A Callum Bradbury catch and a well-set maul inched its way to the line before hooker Aneurin James scored in the corner and Newman converted. 

Just before half-time, Tetley hit his third penalty to reduce the deficit to 13 points.

The second half started off evenly, but Brecon, for a period, fell foul of the referee’s interpretation at the breakdown. Tetly was able to reduce the deficit to just five points with two further penalties.

If there was anxiety on the field it wasn’t shown and Brecon built towards the next score. After a Dixon drive, Geraint Walsh put in a neat attacking kick. Sam Jones got to the ball first and kicked ahead. With Walsh and Jones winning the chase towards the line they were illegally impeded and the referee awarded a penalty try.

Cross Keys hit back with a try of their own after they chose to take a tap penalty but Newman kept Brecon well in the lead with another penalty and then Brecon claimed their fourth, bonus point try. 

After a great run by Geraint Clarke, the replacement hooker deservedly claimed a try off a driving maul. Newman’s conversion brought up the 40 points but Keys had the final say when Brecon were reduced to 14 men. 

Brecon held the attacking scrum but with Nicholls breaking at number 8 and feeding scrum half Dan Babos space was created for wing Ralph Miller to score in the corner and Tetley converted to bring the game to an end.

In the final debrief, Head Coach Dale Mcintosh said: “You should be pleased with today’s performance. It is never easy to win on the road, but collectively I believe we still have a lot more to give.

Coach Owen Sheppeard added: “Enjoy the victory but let us all make sure that we push on from here.”

Pushing on will start with a return to Parc de Pugh to face Newcastle Emlyn next Saturday before the return of Neath for a first round cup match.

Meanwhile Brecon’s Athletic team continued their winning start to their league season with a 19-10 victory at Bridgend Athletic.