WRU National League Division 3 South East

Saturday 12th April 2008

Treorchy 26 - Brecon 43

With relegation worries now behind them Brecon pulled off an outstanding victory away at Treorchy in an enthralling encounter. The two teams served up ten tries and the lead changed hands 7 times before Brecon emerged the stronger to deservedly earn the bonus point win.

Throughout the game Brecon’s backs looked very sharp. Passing was precise and this combined with pace and balance gave Brecon the edge. Once the offensive drive of the Treorchy forwards was blunted, in the latter stages of the game, Brecon ran out comfortable winners.

The early exchanges hardly indicated what was to follow. Brecon were put under pressure and had difficulty in stemming their opponents’ drives. For long periods Treorchy maintained possession and it looked as if eventually their close play would reap its reward. It did but in an unexpected way. A change of pattern provided the opening when the ball was moved to outside half Daniel John who switched play back inside to Peter Hutchings on the inside run off his wing. He cut clean through and Lee Stone had the easiest of jobs to convert.

At this point things looked ominous for Brecon but once they gained some territory they began to show that they too possessed a real threat. Full back Owen Morgan was outstanding both on the counter attack and when he moved into midfield to join the ever dangerous Huw Baldwin and Gethin Davies. With half backs Paul Williams and Rob Jones orchestrating things beautifully the outside backs were brought regularly into play and a try always looked likely. Scrum half Paul Williams started the move with a quick tap penalty. Rob Jones made the initial break before off loading for Huw Baldwin to finish.

Rob levelled the score and in no time Brecon were ahead. Owen Morgan broke in the centre and his pass to wing Matthew Watkins gave him a half chance. Matthew showed strength and balance to make the line for his first try of the season.

Treorchy responded immediately with a converted try which was almost a carbon copy of their first, this time with flanker Vernon Lloyd latching onto the inside ball. Their lead was short lived as Huw Baldwin split the home defence and Rob Jones kicked a penalty when the home side illegally killed the ball at the breakdown.

With the game swinging from end to end there was no surprise that Treorchy quickly restored their lead. Pressure from a drive off an attacking line out led to a penalty which prop Nathan Huish took quickly and burst over.

With hardly time to breath Brecon regained the ascendancy. They showed confidence in their handling as they moved the ball out of defence. One of many flowing moves ended with Huw Baldwin giving Owen Morgan a half gap. The young full back needed not second bidding. His pace carried him through the opening for him to record his first try in senior rugby. Jones extended the lead.

Both sides made the most of the half time break. The game had been played at breakneck speed and had flowed from end to end. The patterns of play of the two teams were different. Treorchy were most successful driving around the fringes of phase play while Brecon relished the open spaces and were not afraid to make use of them even when they were deep in their own territory. At this juncture there was no knowing who would emerge victorious.

Treorchy started the second half as they did the first. They pressurised Brecon and again got the first score when hooker Shaun Greave drove over and Stone converted. This turned out to be their last score of the day and although it brought them a bonus point it marked their decline.

Brecon’s tight forwards began to get a grip of the game. Props Zack Lowther and Gareth Owens became prominent and commanding figures. With Alan Taylor leading well Brecon began to take control of the breakdown. Now with regular front-foot ball there could only be one winner. Opening up from deep in their 22 wing Eurin Morgan was given a chance to show his pace as he raced up to the opponents 22 before being cut down by the cover. Now in position Brecon showed further enterprise as Paul Williams took another quick tap penalty and Gareth Owens spoiled his back’s clean sweep by going over for a converted try.

The match was settled when Gethin Davies got in on the act. After all the great team work his was an individual effort. He broke from an unpromising position and then chipped the full back to re-gather and score another converted try.

The icing on the cake came in the last few minutes with a brilliant team try. Owen Morgan stated it with a great catch on his ten metre line. He evaded the first chasing group and fed Eurin Morgan who created space on the wing. His lovely inside pass to classy Ewan Williams opened a gap and Rob Jones moved onto his inside pass at pace. He beat the final remnants of defence for him to record his first try in Brecon senior colours. The conversion gave him a final total of 18 points and sealed undoubtedly Brecon’s best victory of the season.