Spirit aplenty but win proves elusive.
Rob James prepares to make another cover tackle.
Gowerton 1st XV: 14Gwyr1stXV:28
XV cyntaf Tregwyr: 14 XV 1af Gwyr: 28.
Ceisiau hwyr yn gweld Gwyr yn cipio’r gem.
Late scores clinch victory for Gwyr in local derby.
Local rivals Gowerton and Gwyr got their senior under 18 season underway when they took each other on in a friendly. Both schools were indebted to Waunarlwydd RFC who allowed the game to go ahead on their main field and to former international referee Nigel Whitehouse who used his significant skills to officiate at the game.
Some of the lads took a short cut into the ground-Mr Mason had no chance of getting through that gap and had to go the long way around.
Gwyr kicked off in warm but blustery conditions, Gowerton had the advantage of the wind in the first half, but it was Gwyr who applied the early pressure and they took the lead in the 3rd minute when centre Dyfrig Provis crossed for a try that was converted by fly half Elliot Clement.
The try only served to spur on Gowerton and with forwards Rhys Cherry, Liam Morgan, Kieran Fisher and Chris Ross all impressing with their work rate they began to dominate field position. Fly half Ross Young was initially denied a try when he lost the ball in the tackle as he was diving to score, however, this only proved to be a temporary reprieve for Gwyr and in the 16th minute, Young spotted a gap in their defence and sliced through for a try he converted himself.
Man of the match: Rob James
Ross Young who scored and converted both tries.
Gwyr re-established their seven point lead just before half time when strong running No.8 Tom Crowley burst away from a scrum just inside his own half. He looked certain to score until full back Will Bromham tackled him just short of the try line, however, scrum half Ivan Roberts was in support to cross for a try that Clement again converted.
In the second half, with the wind behind them, Gwyr pressed for another score, but Gowerton’s defence held firm with captain Tom Wedlake, scrum half Callum Macdermott and wing and man of the match Rob James all impressing.
As the half progressed, Gowerton began to pose more of a threat and deservedly tied the scores in the 56th minute when fly half Young reacted quickly and gathered a loose ball in the Gwyr ‘22’ crossing for a try which he converted himself to tie the scores.
Both sets of forwards battle for possession.
The result was now very much in the balance, but it was Gwyr, for whom No.8 Crowley and hooker Michael Evans impressed who came out on top. Gwyr touched down twice in the last 10 minutes with full back Rhys Gealy in the 61st minute and centre Matthew Hughes in the 65th minute crossing for tries that were both converted by Clement.
Gowerton’s league programme gets underway on Saturday when they travel to play Olchfa.
