Gowerton and Brisbane visitors’ ‘dish up’ a feast of sport.
PelrwydTregwyr:17 Matthew Flinders: 12.
Gowertonnetball:17 Matthew Flinders: 12.
Tregwyr yn cipio’r fuddugoliaeth o’r ymwelwyr.
Gowerton turn the tables on visitors to achieve victory.
After a quick warm up and a team talk the girls were ready for their post-tour re-match against old rivals Matthew Flinders. Gowerton had lost the away leg two months earlier in Brisbaneand were keen to register victory on home territory.
Flinders won the toss and took the first centre pass which quickly put our defence under pressure but the brilliant defence of Bethan Tucker and Katie Davies ensured few shots at goal for Flinders. At the other end of the court strong shooting from Kiani Eccleston and Ailsa Howells resulted in a 4-2 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Bethany Davies looks for support.
Gowerton opened the second quarter impressively with excellent interceptions from Hannah Griffiths and Sarah Wedlake and combined with good movement in the circle from Ffion Burridge they maintained the lead and at half time the girls looked strong with a score of 8-6.
Elaine Tucker goes for an interception.
After a motivational half time talk from coach, Miss Rushworth, the hosts were determined to strengthen their lead.
Matthew Flinders came back fighting in the third quarter and cut the deficit to one despite a good performance from Katie Toulcher. Jade Williams’ determination shone through and Gowerton began the final quarter leading 11-10.
Katie Toulcher and Ailsa Howells try to gain possession.
In the final quarter encouraged by the verbal support from the sidelines Elaine Tucker, who had been consistent throughout the game, continued to make her opponents movement difficult while Zowie Martin worked extremely hard in defence and the girls were rewarded with a final score of 17-12 and a deserved victory.
Ailsa Howells prepares to shoot for goal.
The post match presentation gave both teams an opportunity to say a few words and exchange memorabilia, and captain Bethany Davies was selected as the player of the match.
Match report: Bethany Davies year 13.
Hoci Tregwyr: 1 Matthew Flinders: 4
Gowerton hockey: 1 Matthew Flinders: 4
Merched hoci yn cael hi’n anodd.
Hockey girls find the going tough.
Gowerton started strongly in the first 10 minutes putting pressure on to the opposing team with shots from Jessica Rees and Ailsa Howells. Matthew Flinders gradually gained the ascendancy and by half time had scored three times to give them a comfortable lead.
In the second half, Gowerton’s heads didn’t go down and they worked really hard to get back into the game, Georgia Davies, Alycia Carpanini and Hannah Breeze-Jones all played really well. The improved second half performance was rewarded with a goal from Hannah Breeze-Jones. However, they were unable to add to this score and in the final ten minutes Flinders grabbed a fourth goal that left them as deserving victors at the final whistle. Alycia Carpanini was awarded player of the game.
The Gowerton and Matthew Flinders hockey teams.
AilXV Tregwyr:35 Matthew Flinders: 19.
Gowerton 2nd XV:35 Matthew Flinders: 19.
Howell yn taro tri yn rhoi Trgwyr ar y blaen
Howell hat-trick gives Gowerton the edge.
Gowerton’s 2nd XV took on their Australian visitors and emerged with a victory that saw them cross for seven tries compared to three from their opponents.
Full back Tom Howell opened the scoring in the 4th minute when a fine pass from fly half Milo Fleming put him clear. The hosts doubled their lead in the 10th minute when a break by scrum half Callum Lewis allowed him to score in the corner.
Olly Smith gathered Tom Howell’s cross kick to score.
The visitors replied five minutes later when fly half Taylor Raymond scored. Lock Sam Davis added the conversion.
Gowerton’s forwards began to gain the upper hand with prop Lewis Cooke and flankers Will Jones and Will Griffiths dominant at the breakdown and they added tries in the 18th minute when quick thinking by centre Steffan Tyrrell saw him tap a penalty quickly and cross before prop David Carpanini showed an impressive turn of speed to score from 40 metres after good work by scrum half Lewis.
Hat trick hero Tom Howell carries the ball in two hands-Well done Tom.
The visitors replied with a piece of quick thinking of their own when scrum half Tom Bofinger reacted first to gather a loose ball and score a try that lock Davis again converted.
The hosts added three further tries in the first 15 minutes of the second half. A Tom Howell cross kick was gathered by wing Oliver Smith who scored in the corner. Howell then added two further tries of his own to complete his hat trick. The first came after more good work from scrum half Lewis and the second was after flanker Jones had achieved a fine turnover.
However, it was Flinders who had the final word when centre Angus Southwell crossed. At full time Gowerton were deserving victors by 35-19 and full back Howell was awarded man of the match.
Gowerton and Matthew Flinders 2nd XV squads.
Will Jones leaps high to secure lineout possession.
XV 1afTregwyr: 31 Matthew Flinders: 21.
Gowerton1st XV:31 Matthew Flinders: 21.
Tregwyr ynllwyddianus mewn gemwefreiddiol
Gowerton edge out Aussies in eight try thriller.
Keelan Giles looks to find space.
The culmination of the afternoon’s sport saw the two schools’ 1st XVs lock horns under floodlights at Gowerton RFC. At kick off conditions were perfect for open rugby and the players didn’t disappoint with the first half in particular being an outstanding advert for schools’ rugby with both teams committed in defence, but the skill level of both was such that they were both able to create numerous scoring opportunities.
Gowerton took the lead in the 3rd minute when No.8 Ethan Harris supplied good lineout possession. Scrum half Rob James threatened the visitors’ defensive line and flanker Jack Cambriani was on his shoulder to slice through the defence for a try converted by centre and captain Callum Macdermott.
Matthew Flinders were keen to keep the ball in hand at every opportunity and fly half Cody Hooper was a constant threat. Hooper crossed in the 7th minute when he was on hand to collect an offload from centre Marcus Borean after Gowerton’s midfield defence repulsed their initial attack. Borean added the extras to tie the scores.
Rob James passes the ball away from the breakdown.
The next two tries were scored by Gowerton’s ‘will o’ the wisp’ full back Keelan Giles. In the 9th minute a loose kick was gathered in his own half and he set off on a run where his footwork left defenders trailing in his wake and he crossed beneath the posts for an outstanding individual try. Macdermott again converted.
Five minutes later Giles showed his pace when an excellent pass from fly half Tom Froom allowed him to get outside his opposite number and sprint clear from 40 metres for a score to which Froom added the extras.
The quality of the rugby on show continued to impress the healthy crowd that included Welsh internationals Daniel Biggar and Liam Williams. Flinders reduced the deficit in the 19th minute when an excellent move from a line out saw blindside wing Zach Allen hit an excellent line to take an inside pass 10 metres out and cross for a try Borean again converted.
However, Gowerton’s forwards with prop Richard Keefe, hooker Jordon Liney, No.8 Ethan Harris, lock Sam Grunhut and flankers Scott Smith and man of the match Jack Cambriani all impressing, began to gain the upper hand. They added another score when hooker Liney scored as a result of a powerful drive from the pack.
No.8 Ethan Harris leaps to secure lineout possession.
In the final minute of the half a long kick out of defence by fly half Froom, who displayed impressive game management throughout the half, established a position in the visitors ’22 that allowed wing Lewis Macdermott to sprint 20 metres to score in the corner and Gowerton held a 31-14 advantage at the break.
With both sides making a raft of changes in the second half the play inevitably became more disjointed and in fact it was the visitors who held the advantage and they deservedly cut the deficit in the 55th minute when fly half Hooper scored in the corner, centre Borean’s touchline conversion must have impressed the watching Biggar. Although the visitors pressed for another score, the hosts’ defence was secure and they held on to achieve a well merited win.
Gowerton and Matthew Flinders 1st XV squads.
