Tuesday 7th February 2017.
Year 9 are Ospreys’ plate winners.
Gowerton yr 9: 33 Ysgol Bae Baglan yr 9: 24.
The year 9 squad:
Back from left: Kieron Bevan, Liam Butler, Tom Richards, Alex Chislett, Peter Legg-Davies, Alex Hughes, Leo Pietrapertosa, Jay Jones, Darragh Cahill, Jamie Jones, Brad Evans, Jack Bailey, Will Steadman, Alex Davies.
Front from left: Isaac Clark, Alister Morgan, Owen Parry, Adam Williams, Gavin Williams, Matthew Davies, Chay McCrickard, Teigue Williams, Sam Terry, Ryan Stagg, Olly Freeman, David Pedzai, Luke Penhalagan.
Having defeated Llangatwg from the Neath Valley in the final of the Ospreys West plate competition, Gowerton travelled to the Gnoll to take on the winners from the East, Ysgol Bae Baglan in the overall Ospreys final.
Heavy rain on the morning of the match meant that The Gnoll was declared unfit and the game was moved to the 4G surface at Llandarcy.
Gavin Williams demonstrates great technique with the ball in two hands.
Gowerton kicked off and the early stages were evenly matched with both sides looking to keep the ball in hand at every opportunity.
In the 11th minute, it was the Swansea school that opened the scoring when powerful drives by locks Sam Terry and Olly Freeman took their team into Bae Baglan’s half, scrum half Kieron Bevan fed No.8 Darragh Cahill who set off on a strong run that saw him power his way through four would be tacklers on a 50 metre run that resulted in a try that fly half Alex Hughes converted.
The Port Talbot school were then rocked by an injury to No.8 Dylan Samuel who had started the game strongly but had to be substituted after sustaining a head injury.
Gowerton were on top during the second quarter with the distribution of centres Teigue Williams and Gavin Williams allowing full back Matthew Davies and wings Alex Chislett and Alister Morgan the space to look dangerous on several occasions.
In the 29th minute, Gowerton doubled their lead when good work from flankers Terry and Leo Pietrapertosa and prop Jay Jones allowed captain Teigue Williams to drive over from 15 metres. Fly half Hughes again added the extras.
Captain Teigue Williams, who grabbed a brace of tries.
On the stroke of half time, Gowerton stretched their lead with an excellently constructed try. An intelligent cross field kick was impressively gathered by flanker Pietrapertosa who made ground into the 22 and fed hardworking full back Matthew Davies who scored out wide. Fly half Hughes again added the extras and at the break Gowerton led by 21 points.
Gowerton started the second half full of confidence and with fly half Hughes orchestrating play intelligently stretched their lead in the 41st minute when a strong drive by hooker Jamie Jones and good work from joint players of the match captain Teigue Williams and full back Matthew Davies gave fly half Hughes the room to stride over for a try he again converted.
Gowerton’s defensive line warms up;Will –Get your outside foot forward.
The Port Talbot school continued to have spells of pressure of their own with centre Joe Clutterbuck, full back Macauley Power and fly half Lennon Reynolds all having the pace to offer a threat whenever they were given the opportunity and they deservedly opened their account in the 51st minute with an outstanding individual score from flanker Mitchell Stroud who sprinted clear from his own half.
Gowerton re-established control when a long kick out of defence by fly half Hughes was chased by wing Tom Richards who forced an error that allowed captain Teigue Williams to profit and cross for a second time.
The final quarter was dominated by the Port Talbot school and they crossed for three scores by fly half Reynolds, flanker Stroud and full back Power. Centre Clutterbuck and prop Aaron Thomas added a conversion each to set up a tense final ten minutes but Gowerton’s defence was not going to yield again and at full time it was captain Teigue Williams who lifted the trophy.
