Brecon Athletic delivered a commanding performance at the Principality Stadium, with Jake Crockett at the centre of a 49-5 Division 5 Cup final win that underlined the club's progress
Brecon Athletic sealed a resounding 49-5 victory over Bargoed Athletic in the WRU Division 5 Cup final at the Principality Stadium, a contest that showcased a blend of forward power and clever counterplay. The match, reported on by Joseph Gough and Ben James and timestamped 13:36, 19 Apr 2026 (updated 13:44, 19 Apr 2026), was defined by a series of incisive moments from full-back Jake Crockett, whose two tries and influential involvement in build-up play earned him the player of the match award.
Hundreds of travelling fans lined Westgate Street before kick-off and witnessed a performance that reflected Brecon’s season-long momentum.
The result carried echoes of Crockett’s earlier stadium heroics seven years prior, when he bagged a hat-trick in the National Plate final for Andy Powell’s Brecon outfit; that victory famously culminated in a celebratory tractor-and-trailer parade through the town.
This time, Crockett was modest about plans for the return journey, saying the group would enjoy a few drinks in Cardiff before heading back and hoping for a warm reception in Brecon. He added wryly that there would be no tractor parade this time, while accepting that the win was about much more than an individual display.
First-half momentum and pivotal moments
The opening exchanges set the tone as Crockett produced a threatening break from deep inside the first minute, drawing defenders and forcing a deliberate knock-on that gave Brecon an early scoring platform. From the ensuing kick to the corner the home side used their maul effectively: the pack wheeled forward and hooker Josh Pritchard powered over from close range. Brecon then extended their advantage with a penalty by Crockett. Bargoed responded and thought they had crossed when tighthead Aaron Elliot carried past several defenders, but replays and officials ultimately ruled he was just short of the line. Moments before half-time Pritchard was replaced by Iestyn Phillips, whose introduction immediately helped the scrum dominate and disrupt Bargoed’s platform. Late in the half a minor altercation led to loosehead Greg Callow being shown sin-binned for 10 minutes, leaving Bargoed temporarily reduced to 14 players.
Second-half surge and finishing touches
With the numerical advantage restored at the interval, Brecon started the second period aggressively, the forwards producing strong carries to set up a corner score for replacement Luke Price. With a growing cushion the visitors began to play with more freedom. Another incisive break from Crockett opened space for wing Kyran Dillon, and soon after a dominant scrum sequence produced a try for second-row Wyn Davies. The momentum continued as fly-half Gareth Price delivered a well-timed delayed pass that released centre Tudor Roderick to round a defender and touch down for a composed score. Bargoed responded through Leon James, but Brecon’s pack and backs combined to keep control.
Crockett’s influence and late strikes
Fifteen minutes from time Crockett was rewarded for consistent industry when he finished down the blindside from a scrum and added the conversion — his first success from the tee that day. Shortly afterwards he engineered another move by forcing a turnover and setting up a phase of patient play that allowed scrum-half Hugh Prothero to dart through and score. Replacement hooker Iestyn Phillips later powered over from close range, and despite a late sin-bin for Brecon’s Henry Gervis as Bargoed searched for a reply, Crockett completed his brace by intercepting a pass inside his own 22 and racing clear for a final try. Substitute James Hellard added the conversion to round out the scoring and send travelling supporters into jubilant celebration on the A470 return route.
Key performers and the wider significance
Jake Crockett was the obvious standout — two tries, a penalty, and constant involvement in the phases that unlocked Bargoed’s defence — but the win was underpinned by the pack. Josh Pritchard set the tone with the opening try before his replacement Iestyn Phillips continued that physical edge. Scrum stability, dominated phases, and effective use of the drive around the fringes allowed backs such as Tudor Roderick and Hugh Prothero to finish clinically. From Brecon’s perspective the result felt like a statement: Crockett reflected on playing alongside local teammates from junior ranks and insisted the success belonged to the collective and to the coaching structure now in place, which he believes can lift the club further.
Match details and scorers
The scoring summary reads: Brecon Athletic tries from Josh Pritchard, Luke Price, Wyn Davies, Tudor Roderick, Jake Crockett (2), Hugh Prothero, and Iestyn Phillips. Conversions by Jake Crockett (2) and James Hellard; penalty by Jake Crockett. Bargoed’s solitary try came from Leon James. The full Brecon matchday squad included Crockett; Owen Morgan, Roderick, Eifion Jones, Dillon; Gareth Price, Prothero; Richard Davies, Pritchard, Josh Hamilton, Wyn Davies, Will Prosser, Josh Millichap, Rhodri Workman and Davey Herdman, with replacements such as Iestyn Phillips, Luke Price and James Hellard contributing during the win. The emphatic scoreline underlined a day when teamwork, physicality and decisive moments combined to lift silverware for Brecon Athletic.
