Fixture

It was a case of so near yet so far for Mountain Ash Youth in their game against a capable Brecon Youth XV in the Heart of Wales Cup final in Merthyr last Saturday with a combination of missed scoring chances, and a couple of contentious refereeing decisions in the last 6 to 7 minutes, eventually costing them the game.

Mount played against the wind in the first half and had the better of the opening quarter, backrow forwards Jarrod Morgan and Jordan Burke putting in some strong drives which made ground. A fumble by the Brecon midfield was kicked downfield, wing Morgan James just being beaten to the ball with few Brecon defenders in sight. Both Morgan and Burke took part in an attack which saw the Young Firm held up over the Brecon line. A penalty was then kicked to the corner but a mix up at the lineout let the mid Wales team off the hook and the ball was cleared. A high kick saw the Brecon full back drop the ball and a kick on took play to 10 metres out but despite pressure, it was once again cleared. After Brecon won a lineout and threw the ball wide, centre Jarrod Cushion intercepted to run 35 metres to open the scoring with a try which full back and Captain Jack Roberts converted to make it 7-0.

Mount’s failure to secure the restart saw Brecon set up an attack which earned them a 20 metre penalty which was converted to make it 7-3. Shortly after, a couple of breaks in midfield, one of which looked like obstruction, saw Brecon finish off the scoring chance with a try midway out, which put them in 8-7 in front after 26 minutes. On half time, a quick penalty take by scrum half Morgan Cartwright took play to 5 metres out where the ball was moved wide, centre Daniel Cartwright making a half break but tackled 5 metres out.

A dropped pass from the kick off saw Brecon offside but Roberts’ 25 metre penalty rebounded off a post. Backrow men Jarrod Morgan and Jordan Burke again featured from an attack from a scrum midway out to take play into the Brecon 22, where a penalty was awarded to the Young Firm from 15 metres out, full back Roberts converting it to put Mount 10-8 up. Another attack saw a good drive by the Mount forwards but a forward pass just 10 metres out gave Brecon a scrum from where a pass to the outside half was just short and fumbled, the Mount backrow quickly onto it, and centre Daniel Cartwright eventually touching down to score, Roberts converting from midway out to give the Young Firm a 17-8 lead after 10 minutes of the second half.

Although 9 points up, Brecon had shown themselves to be a talented team, able to mount attacks from anywhere on the pitch. After 22 minutes, the Young Firm had to defend determinedly on their own 22 but conceded a penalty 15 metres out which was kicked to make the score 17-11. A well placed restart by Roberts saw a Brecon player try to run out from behind his own line but he was tackled into touch. Although Mount won the resulting 5 metre lineout, the mid Wales side were left off the hook by a failure to take advantage, which resulted in a penalty to Brecon for the ball to be cleared. A scrum on the Brecon 10 metre line saw No.8 Morgan pick up and attack on the narrow side, passing to scrum half Cartwright, who put wing Morgan James away, his chip being just too long.

With only 4 minutes of normal time left, a Brecon attack took play up to the Mount 22 where the ball was moved wide to a bulky forward who broke the line 15 metres out before setting his wing away down the touchline for him to dive over in the corner. Although the touchjudge raised his flag and signalled touch for several strides, he then put it down and after a short exchange of words with the referee, the try was awarded. With the touchline conversion missed, the Young Firm still led 17-16. As the game moved into injury time, a failure by Mount to clear the ball to touch led to a couple of Brecon attacks which saw play come up to the 22, where the Mount forwards appeared to have turned the ball over at a ruck, but after hesitating, the referee eventually awarded a penalty to Brecon which was kicked from 25 metres out to put the mid Wales side 19-17 in front. The Young Firm were not finished, and tremendous pressure at the restart secured the ball. A number of forward drives took the ball up to 10 metres out where they were awarded a scrum from which a drop goal attempt was mishit, leaving Brecon the winners of an entertaining game, played in good spirit, by two committed teams.