After a break of four months, league rugby returned to Parc de Pugh at the weekend as Brecon took on Bedlinog.

Brecon 37 - Bedlinog 25

Report by Ron Rowsell

After such a long period away, a large crowd turned out to welcome the Brecon team home, with the hope that the disappointment of the narrow cup loss was now behind them and that they could kick start their challenge for promotion.

With that aim in mind, they faced a serious challenge from visitors, Bedlinog. With both sides having amassed 32 league points and currently holding third and fourth places in the league this was a must-win match for both teams.

Both sides set out to play positive rugby and as a result they produced an excellent spectacle of competitive rugby, played with great spirit throughout.

For much of the first half the game was close. Brecon held territorial advantage as they benefitted from the wind at their backs and threatened to break away as they put together a number of penetrating attacks. But faced by a well organised defence, opportunities were cancelled out and although Brecon held the lead, they were never able to completely shake off a well organised a competitive team. A crucial score, just before half time, eased the worries as Brecon increased their lead just before turning round and having to play into the wind. Any worries that Brecon may have had at the interval were quickly dispelled.

Facing the wind in the second half, they produced an excellent all round performance. The defence was strong and this was emphasised by the fact that they didn’t concede a point against a good side which had the elements in their favour. Brecon also showed a clinical edge to score two excellent tries and to run out bonus points winners.

Brecon’s start to the game could not have been better. Jake Crockett, back in the full back berth, cut some great lines and was elusive from his first touch. Owen Morgan looked dangerous every time he had the ball and when the Alwyn Lee, who had an outstanding game, combined with Logan McIntosh space was created. A lovely wide pass from centre Ollie Lewis put Ben Griffin away for the first score and Dion McIntosh extended the lead with a great conversion from wide out.

This early clinical score probably gave home supporters the false impression that this would be a romp in the park. False impression it certainly was. Within minutes of the kick off Bedlinog gained ground with a 50/22 kick giving them a lineout on the Brecon 22. After a good period of continuity, they won a penalty and from a line out on five metres they drove over to score. Although the conversion failed, they now trailed Brecon by just two points.

Brecon immediately sought to hit back and extend their lead. They exerted tremendous territorial pressure on their opponents but although they threatened to score the impressive Bedlinog defence resisted for a full twenty minutes. Finally, Dion McIntosh kicked a penalty to take the lead to five points.

After a short incursion into the Brecon half, Bedlinog were pegged back once again after Will Prosser pounced on a loose ball and spread the ball wide. Owen Morgan, from almost on his own 22, showed great pace to get away only for the cover to finally track him down on the Bedlinog 22. The ball was quickly won and Brecon should have scored only for the ball to be passed back inside and dropped when there were two players free outside. However, under such pressure for such a long period of time the Bedlinog defence seemed to be tiring and Brecon at last made the most of their dominance. After some good work amongst the forwards with Richie Davies, and Ioan Edwards prominent, the Bedlinog defence was pulled narrow and when Brecon spread it wide to the right Ben Griffin was able to deliver a scoring pass to Jake Crockett who crossed in the corner. Unfortunately, the impressive Griffin sustained an injury and this was his last action. He was replaced on the wing by Darran Harris, making his return to rugby after a six-year absence.

Within minutes of his entry onto the field, and with his first touch of the ball, Harris scored. Brecon won a line out on their 22. They set up an effective maul which carried play to their ten-metre line. Scrum half, Carl Blacker put in an up and under and the chase was good. Under pressure the Bedlinog outside half took the ball but tried to pass it out of contact. The ball bounced loose and the first to respond and collect the ball at pace was Harris. He had a clear run to the posts. McIntosh converted.

With minutes of the half to go Brecon were now 17 points in the lead. From the kick off that lead was reduced as Bedlinog won a penalty and Brecon went in to half time to prepare to face the wind with a fourteen point advantage.

The second half started with Bedlinog making full use of the wind advantage. They gained territory and looked for an early score. It never came. The Brecon defence was outstanding. Flanker Chris Davies hit hard in the tackle and showed wonderful handling skills when in possession. Ioan Edwards led by example and Alwyn Lee was a thorn in his opponents flesh as he stole line outs and barely missed a tackle. At the heart of this defensive effort also was Lewis Smout and Aneurin James. The same could be said for Brecon’s midfield where Eifion Jones and Ollie Lewis were rock solid in the face of lively opponents. Finally, after holding firm for a full fifteen minutes Brecon boke upfield. A lovely wide pass from Eifion Jones to Darran Harris posted a warning as the replacement wing almost got away. Within minutes the score came after a great counter ruck gave Brecon the ball near the 22. A great Ollie Lewis pass under pressure put Harris in space and he raced in for his second try which McIntosh converted.

Bedlinog now began to look like a spent force. 21 points behind and having had no success in their opening twenty minutes of the half they began to look dispirited. They posted an attack but that was easily dismantled and Brecon again started to look dangerous. Dion McIntosh prompted the attacks brilliantly with a wide range of accurate passes and he was eventually rewarded with his second successful penalty.

From here Brecon took complete control of the game. Apart from one incursion into the Brecon half the home side dominated in terms of territory and quality of play. Finally, the fifth try was scored and inevitably it was super sub Harris who claimed it. He received a fairly loose pass with at least three Bedlinog players around him. He shrugged off the attempted tackle and broke clear to score his third and close Brecon’s account for the afternoon.

At the end of the match he was named as Man of the Match and along with Iwan Dowling Jones, Athletic Team Man of the Match, was presented with a bottle of wine by Fay Jones MP and James Evans MS both of whom thoroughly enjoyed their visit and the match at Parc de Pugh.