Wednesday 19th September 2018.
1st XV bounce back to defeat Neath College.
Gowerton School 1st XV: 43
Neath College 2nd XV: 0.
Gowerton School’s 1st XV bounced back from their narrow defeat at Olchfa in the first round of fixtures in the Ospreys’ schools Premier league producing an impressive performance of running rugby that resulted in them crossing for seven unanswered tries against Neath College at the Elba.
A strong cross wind made handling difficult but the hosts belied those difficult conditions to run the ball at every opportunity with scrum half Jacob Williams releasing his outside backs regularly and full back Cameron Clayfield, centres Tom Davies and James Northey and wing Sam Cartwright all carried a threat when in possession.
Neath had the advantage up front where the accurate throwing into the lineout of hooker Dylan Williams saw them dominate the lineouts. However, Gowerton’s defensive work was unflinching, with the back row of Sam Terry, Will Griffiths and Lewis Grove uncompromising with their tackling and showing excellent technique at the breakdown and the visitors found it difficult to achieve any continuity to their play.
The hosts took the lead in the 5th minute when a half break by scrum half Williams allowed wing Cartwright to make ground along the touchline, when he was halted short of the line his inside pass freed full back Clayfield to score in the corner.
In the 12th minute Gowerton increased their lead when centre Tom Davies broke clear on half way and had the pace to round the last defender and score a try he converted himself.
Centre Tom Davies rounded the last defender to score the second try.
Gowerton continued to have the better of the territory and centre Northey, full back Clayfield and scrum half Williams all made breaks that took them into the Neath ‘22’ but the visitors’ defence with centre Max Williams prominent managed to stop the hosts from increasing their lead and at half time they led by 12 points.
The second half started with the Neath pack in determined mood and with props Ben Francis and Mike Davies and captain and lock Mike Grainge carrying strongly and fly half Joe Murnane kicking intelligently they spent the first fifteen minutes of the half camped in the hosts’ ‘22’. Gowerton’s defensive line refused to yield with wing and man of the match Cartwright to the fore. In the 52nd minute, when a pass went to ground just outside their ‘22’, full back Clayfield pounced on the loose ball, scrum half Williams was quickly in support and when he was halted flanker Griffiths was on hand to take his pass and cross for his side’s third try.
Flanker Will Griffiths was on hand to score the third try.
This score boosted the hosts’ confidence and two more scores followed in the next 3 minutes, the first was the result of a long run from his own half by centre Davies. He added the extras himself. Then from the kick off, flanker Terry gathered, beat the first tackler and sprinted clear to dot down beneath the sticks. Fellow flanker Griffiths kicked the conversion.
Gowerton were now well and truly in the ascendency and full back Clayfield completed his hat trick with two tries in the final five minutes. He added the extras to one and at full time Gowerton were victors 43-0, a score that didn’t reflect the efforts of the visitors particularly in the third quarter when they had been camped in Gowerton’s ‘22’.
Next week, Gowerton face neighbours Gwyr in what is always a hard fought fixture.
