Brecon RFC v Newport RFC – 17th August 2024 by John Evans
Newport RFC continued their preparations for the upcoming Super Rugby Cymru season with a visit to Brecon RFC. Brecon were promoted last season and will and will take their place in the newly revamped WRU Premiership in the coming season, locking horns with some of our old foes, namely Pontypridd, Neath, Newbridge, Cross Keys, and Merthyr. They have recruited strongly, with Dale ‘Chief’ McIntosh at the head of the ship, and people like former Black & Amber Lewis Smout as captain, Osian Davies, the fair-haired dynamo at 7 who was with McIntosh at Merthyr, and Jack Dixon, the former Dragons centre.
Ty Morris and his coaching team changed the look of the squad again, giving game time to different players and, also, take a look at a few more possible signings. Unfortunately, Dafydd Buckland was forced to sit out the game, as was Garin Harris who was injured in the warm up.
Brecon took the field in a Pontypool-esque strip of red, black, and white hoops with solid red side panels as Jac Lloyd kicked off for Newport, playing from right to left in front of the main building at Parc De Pugh.
Newport demolished an early scrum, allowing Ethan Lloyd, playing at 9, time to find Jac Lloyd (no relation). He moved the ball onwards, but a pass out from Carwyn Penny to Lloyd Lewis was tantalisingly too far in front of the speedy winger, but the statement of intent had been made. Newport earned a penalty at the ensuing scrum, Jac Lloyd poking Newport into the corner, but the lineout wasn’t straight, and the opportunity disappeared.
The Black & Ambers were soon on the scoreboard when Joe Peard charged down a clearance attempt. He gathered the ball, prompting a penalty as Brecon dived in desperately to defend. Ethan Lloyd was alive to the situation, took the quick tap and skated over for an early try. Jac Lloyd added the conversion to make it Brecon 0 Newport 7 with 4 minutes played.
Joe Peard found himself isolated soon after the restart, giving Brecon the chance to punt to the Newport corner. Brecon second row Ben Sier took the ball at the front, and the hosts spun the ball wide, but their attack foundered on the Black & Amber rocks in waiting. Newport turned defence into attack with a classic Kyle Tayler deck snaffle regaining possession. Jac Lloyd moved the ball on before Carwyn Penny and Lloyd Lewis interpassed. Josh Skinner provided some link play but remained on hand to take the final ball and run in the score. Jac Lloyd added the two-pointer to make it Brecon 0 Newport 14 with 9 minutes played.
Nathan Evans was in trouble with the referee, Mr Adam Jones, on 13 minutes for a no-arms tackle, earning the burly prop a ten-minute breather. This would have ramifications because of the enforced absence of Garin Harris. The current law states that if a team cannot provide a replacement prop, then they have to withdraw an additional player, meaning that Newport would have to play a few minutes with 13.
Super work by Chay Foster-Smith saw him rob fullback Ryan Davies of the ball, but the move broke down soon after and Brecon could go on the attack. Osian Davies made a determined run for the hosts, but he was well marshalled, as Newport held the ball up over the tryline and earned the turnover. Brecon grew in confidence, spreading the ball and using their numerical advantage well. They managed to suck the Newport defence in with patient phase play before the inevitable gaps appeared, and Ben Sier was available to canter in for the try. This made the score Brecon 5 Newport 14 with the first quarter of the game played.
Newport were back to full strength soon after, and Brecon were unlucky not to add to their scores when a speculative hack ahead cannoned off Rynard Landman and into the arms of Rhodri Jenkins, playing at 5 for Brecon. He barrelled onwards, but a determined effort by Iwan Pyrs-Jones ensured that didn’t develop any further.
Tom Workman pounced on a fumble by Brecon hooker Aneurin James before Jac Lloyd pumped Newport upfield and into the corner, Lloyd Lewis chasing hard. From the ruck, Ethan Lloyd danced around the edge of the ruck and picked out Dai Richards, allowing him to slice through a gap in the defence to score. Jac Lloyd nailed the kick to make it Brecon 5 Newport 21 on 29 minutes.
Brecon thrust forward again, a booming pass from centre Ollie Lewis to wing Tom Richards giving him a sniff of a chance, but by kicking ahead and attempting to outrun Lloyd Lewis, he effectively eliminated his chances completely.
The hosts had Newport stuck in the corner of the pitch and were rewarded on 36 minutes by a hard-fought try. Utilising plays straight out of Chief’s manual, their big forwards throwing themselves into contact, trying to wear Newport down. It was Logan McIntosh who was the try scorer but, again, the conversion was missed, so the score now was Brecon 10 Newport 21 on 37 minutes.
Jac Lloyd put in an untidy kick, but it proved ultimately fruitful as Brecon simply hacked it back into the path, almost, of Lloyd Lewis. The wingman gave himself half a second, picked his line and sprinted, swerving as he went, virtually untouched to the try line. Jac Lloyd again added the two, making it Brecon 10 Newport 28 on 40 minutes.
There was one last score for Newport in this half, as the Black and Ambers splintered a Brecon scrum. Jac Lloyd kicked the visitors to the corner again and the forwards continued working hard. It took a strong fend and pass by Rynard Landman to pop the ball into Lloyd Lewis hands, before he had to skip through a few attempted challenges to dot the ball down. The score was Brecon 10 Newport 33 as Mr Jones blew for half-time.
Half Time: Brecon RFC 10 Newport RFC 33
Newport had made a few changes at halftime, Josh Skinner giving way to Lewis David, while Lloyd Lewis was relieved by Elliot Frewen. Geraint Workman, playing 10 for Brecon, started the second half. There followed a spell of 11 minutes when Brecon threw up a defensive firewall as Newport must have had around 90% possession but were thwarted at each attempt. Ben Roach was always available, Rynard Landman went close, but Brecon remained resolute. Newport shipped a free kick at a scrum, but Newport kept the screws on as the ball remained infield and was sent back with a well-executed 50:22. Home number 8 Ben Roberts seemed to give away a string of penalties for pulling down the ruck as Henry Palmer and Rynard Landman surged close to the line. Newport finally got the ball over the line, but Mr Jones declared that it had been held up. Nathan Evans couldn’t believe what he saw as the bodies unpeeled from around him, as he appeared to have grounded it fairly. The defence broke soon, though, and Rynard Landman bagged the try that he thoroughly deserved. The Black & Ambers went through the phases, the big South African linking like a ‘7’ to keep the ball alive, eventually leading to him crashing over. Jac Lloyd added the conversion to make it Brecon 10 Newport 40 on 55 minutes.
Tyler Olding assumed hooker duties as Elliot Frewen ran the restart back at Brecon. The flyer stood his opposite number up before tearing off with Luke Crane, on for Ethan Lloyd, in support. Tyler Olding ran a smart line in support but was hauled down just metres short of the tryline.
Newport kept the scoreboard ticking as a loose kick was punished. Jac Lloyd popped the ball to Luke Crane who was instrumental in finding space, with Tom Davies sprinting hard in support. A simple pass and the youngster raced under the posts to score. Jac Lloyd added the two, making it Brecon 10 Newport 47 with 62 minutes played.
Archie Callaghan and Dray Jack Griffin joined the play as Brecon strived to minimise the deficit, but a crunching tackle by Dray Jack Griffin closed the door.
Ollie Lewis tried to create space for fullback Ryan Davies as Brecon worked hard but again Dray Jack Griffin halted progress there causing Brecon to fumble. The hosts then strayed offside to compound the matter. Luke Crane tapped quickly as Jac Lloyd skipped through tackles and it was Tom Davies in support again to claim the final try of the match. Jac Lloyd did his thing again making it Brecon 10 Newport 54 with 71 minutes gone.
Brecon were trying everything. A penalty from a clumsy tackle put them into the Newport corner, but the lineout was inaccurate. Geraint Workman appeared to be through with a neat chip, but an outlandish pass by wing Tom Richards ensured that Brecon would score no more points today. The hosts willingness to hammer at the Newport door was to be applauded, even at this late stage of the game, but the Black & Amber jerseys clamping down on runners was fantastic to see.
Full Time: Brecon RFC 10 Newport RFC 54
Brecon look well set for a good go at the WRU Premiership this year, and we at Newport RFC wish them all the best for the season ahead.
Newport RFC conclude their pre-season build up with a game away to Dings Crusaders on August 31st. The Friends of Newport Rugby Trust are running a bus to Dings, keenly priced at £15 per seat. The bus leaves the Riverfront at 1pm, returning from Dings at 6pm. If you would like to travel, please email Steve at stattonrfc@live.co.uk soon.
On Saturday September 7th, we celebrate the club’s 150th season! There is a gala dinner arranged at the Celtic Manor. Phil Steele will host the evening, which will also feature live music from Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band. The Gold tables have already sold out, so please email commercial@newportrfc.co.uk for more information.
Onwards and upwards Newport.
Your City. Your Colours. Your Club
#cotp
Newport RFC Man of the Match; Jac Lloyd
Final Score – Brecon RFC 10 Newport RFC 54