In the first season of participation in the WRU National Leagues, Brecon Athletic travelled to Cyncoed, Cardiff, hoping to extend their unbeaten record.

They were also hoping to regain the top place which they surrendered with the away draw at Tondu the previous week.

But after thirty minutes of the first half that hope seemed to be no more than a dream which was rapidly being transformed into a nightmare. 

At that point, on the artificial university surface, Brecon already seemed to be facing a heavy defeat as the students raced into a 24 points to nil lead with three converted tries and a penalty.

At this stage Brecon had been completely outplayed. They struggled with the pace of the students on the fast surface, and in contrast to their opponents, they found it difficult to deal with a gusting wind which angled across the field and slightly favoured the home side.

As the game headed towards the half time whistle Brecon finally gained a foothold in opposition territory and they made it count with a morale boosting try and conversion. Flanker Rhodri Jenkins and prop Josh Hamilton made good ground through the Cardiff Met defence and young centre Joel Price finished clinically after attacking the line with pace and power to score under the posts and to make the conversion a simple affair for young full back Louis Price.

Brecon started the second half in the way that they ended the first.

They survived some Met pressure and a great Jenkins tackle and a turnover gave Brecon an opportunity which they took. They clinically converted pressure into points with wing Huw Jones storming over in the corner.

As Cardiff Met lined up to kick off with their advantage cut to 12 points, the small contingent of Brecon supporters felt that, after a disastrous start, there was some hope. 

But that hope was dashed when first Brecon failed to gather the kick off and the Met scored a try.

The gloom further deepened after a mistake off the first line-out after the kick off and sweeping move yielded another try and conversion for the Met.

When the University side added a penalty to post a score of 39 points to 12, with 20 minutes to play, it looked like game over and a disappointing drubbing for the Athletic.

What transpired in that last 20 minutes was nothing but remarkable. Surely, now, 27 points down, Brecon had no hope, or so their supporters thought. Clearly, however, the Brecon players didn’t buy into that scenario and through their efforts they turned the game on its head and almost claimed a stunning victory. 

It would be hard to identify what exactly changed but there were some significant factors. Brecon for much of the previous 60 minutes had found it difficult to make cope with the wind. Now, with nothing to lose, the ball was kept in hand. They also took the game to their opponents with pace, power and accuracy, where previously there were numerous mistakes and Brecon had been subdued and passive, allowing the Met players to enjoy time territory and possession. 

The replacement bench was well used and the new energy of wing Ben Griffin, flanker Iwan Davies, prop Iestyn Phillips and second row Andrew Hosie undoubtedly lifted the team.

With captain James Hellard showing great belief in his squad, suddenly the team clicked. 

The efforts of stand out players such as Rhodri Jenkins and Ryan James, together with the impact of Josh Hamilton drives and the never-say-die attitude of youngsters Jacob Demesi, Huw Jones, Luis Price, Joel Price, Dewi Worwood, Gwilym Workman, Rhys Mills, and the more senior contingent of Dafydd Edwards, Gareth Price, Aaeron Evans, Josh Millichap, and Will Prosser resulted in a stunning final 20 minutes.

The first of the unanswered final four tries was clinically taken by wing Dafydd Edwards after a great scrum penalty and some good Rhys Mills support.

The next came after a good line-out drive and a line breaking burst by flanker Ryan James. His try under the posts was easily converted by Ben Griffin.

Now 13 points down, with 10 minutes to play, hopes were definitely beginning to rise.

Some great wide play gave wing Dafydd Edwards space and he brilliantly dotted down for his second try. The conversion, from almost on the touchline, was now important. Could Brecon get back to within a single score? Sadly the effort went just wide, but Brecon were not finished.

Will Prosser’s eyes lit up when he received the ball on the 22. He showed pace and power to brush through attempted tackles and score Brecon’s sixth try, reducing the deficit to just three points. 

Unfortunately, the final whistle ended hopes of an incredible victory which was almost rescued from the jaws of a potential huge defeat. 

With two bonus points in the bag there was huge satisfaction at the resilience of the team but also disappointment at the below par performance for much of the first half and the early mistakes in the second.