Llandovery College duly won the 127th annual fixture against old Brecon rivals Christ College 29-12 but were taken all the way by opponents who fought for every inch of the Tredegar Close pitch.

Christ College had not been enjoying the best of seasons in Conference B of the Welsh Schools and Colleges league but they raised their game to new heights against last year’s Conference A winners.

The intensity of the game would have delighted the recently deceased Dai Gealy, a former college rugby star and later English master who many consider the finest fly-half to have played for the Carmarthenshire independent school.

A minute’s silence was held prior to kick off.

To win, Brecon needed to keep the ball away from the dangerous Llandovery backs and they succeeded for long periods, the pack brave and fearless in the close quarter engagements.

But the Lilywhites had that extra bit of pace and thrust when in possession and their five tries were the result of swift handling and running that the Brecon backs could not cope with.

Tomos Price, a scrum half by trade, was a fine fly half and orchestrated things well to create tries as well as scoring one fine solo effort at a crucial time.

A Gryff Watkins try after a strong carry from prop Josh Wrigglesworth and a Price conversion were the only scores of the first half.

And there was a fleeting glimpse of a surprise early in the second half when carry after carry brought the visitors a try for hooker Evans, well converted by promising fly half Archie Lavington

The Christ College forwards kept up the pressure at 7-7 only to see Llandovery suddenly hit them with two tries in as many minutes.

Griffiths broke cleanly to send Williams in before Price twinkled past one defender after another to make 17-7.

With Brecon pounding away at the Llandovery line, they lost the ball in contact, Price found Williams with an accurate cross field kick and the powerful wing accelerated clear.

Down but never out, Brecon responded manfully with a sniping effort from replacement scrum half Ollie Morgan only for the hosts to have the last word with a sweeping move that worked in full back Gabriel Speakman for a converted try.

Llandovery College

Tries: T Williams (2), G Watkins, T Price, G Speakman

Cons: T Price (2)

Christ College

Tries: I Evans, O Morgan

Con: A Lavington