Late Gowerton surge ensures win.
Gowerton School 1st XV: 41 Neath/Port Talbot Coll: 10.
The squad receive last minute instructions from Mr Williams.
1st XV move to second place in the league after victory.
Gowerton 1st XV recommenced their Ospreys region schools’ league fixtures when they entertained Neath/Port Talbot College IIs at Gowerton RFC.
Scott Smith leaps high to secure lineout possession.
The visitors had achieved a convincing win over Llangynwyd last week and arrived in confident mood, whereas both of Gowerton’s post Christmas games had been postponed due to the poor weather.
Nevertheless, Gowerton took the lead in the 2nd minute when prop Richard Keefe won possession on half way, scrum half Milo Fleming chipped over the defence to the blindside and wing Tom Howell gathered cleverly to score a try that was converted by full back Oliver Smith.
The visitors bounced back impressively and their forwards held the upper hand during the next quarter with hooker Nathan Edwards and No.8 Ryan Price both competing strongly at the breakdown. Scrum half Jacob Tomaselli probed intelligently around the fringes and the College deservedly scored in the 16th minute when Tomaselli tapped a penalty quickly. He was hauled down just short, but half back partner Brodie Watkins was on hand to pick up and drive over.
Man of the match Sam Clark wasn’t happy “After a performance like that we deserve champagne not water!” he said.
There were no further scores before the break and Gowerton held a slender 7-5 lead at the turnaround.The early part of the second half was evenly contested and Gowerton stretched their lead in the 46th minute when wing Howell kicked a penalty from close range. College continued to give a good account of themselves and equalised in the 52nd minute when centre Callum Thomas-Roach brushed off two would be tacklers to cross in the corner.
The game was very much in the balance as it entered the final quarter, but Gowerton gained the upper hand as the visitors’ forwards tired and with Gowerton’s flanker Marcus Besley and man of the match lock Sam Clark proving increasingly influential the hosts scored five tries in a dominant last 15 minutes. The first was a penalty try awarded when a deliberate knock on denied the hosts a score in the 57th minute. Howell converted. Three minutes later a well executed catch and drive from a lineout resulted in a try for No.8 and captain Joel Young, Howell again added the extras. In the 66th minute a counter attack initiated by Howell was initially denied by an excellent tackle by College wing Connor Maine, but when the ball was recycled good work by fly half Steffan Tyrrell freed centre Callum Owen to cross.
Ethan Harris wins a lineout.
Two minutes later, flanker Kieryn Lewis charged down a clearance kick and pounced on the loose ball to score, Howell again added the extras. With the final move of the game a strong run from flanker Besley allowed centre Owen to grab his second score. The final whistle followed and Gowerton’s victory was deserved although the final score line may have flattered them.
Next week Gowerton face a tough local derby when they travel to neighbours Olchfa.
