Gowerton 1st XV: 23 Neath Port Talbot College 2nd XV: 25.

Gowerton 1st XV continued their Ospreys schools’ Division 1 programme when they entertained Neath Port Talbot College at the Elba.
The two teams had been involved in a tight fixture in the reverse game earlier in the season which Gowerton won narrowly. They were looking to secure a double, the visitors on the other hand were keen to even the score with a win of their own.
Despite the recent poor weather, the Elba was in good condition allowing the two teams to produce an entertaining game that included eight tries and it was the visitors who emerged as narrow but deserved victors at full time.
The visitors applied the early pressure but were unable to breach the hosts’ defence with prop Jacob Purcell and lock Robyn Williams both stand out defenders.

NPTC (black and white) attack the Gowerton line.

Gowerton were able to relieve the pressure and mount their own attacks with prop Peter Legg-Davies and wing Ben Cort both running strongly to take play into the visitors’ half. They were rewarded in the 8th minute when a high tackle 30 metres out led to a penalty that fly half Paul Packham confidently converted to give his side the lead.
NPTC continued to play a positive brand of rugby and took the lead in the 12th minute when a clever kick ahead by centre Owen Jones found space behind Gowerton’s defence and the pacey Jones won the chase to ground the ball.
The hosts responded strongly and regained the lead in the 18th minute when a powerful carry by prop Purcell breached the NPTC defensive line, centre Tom Davies was on hand to continue the move and he freed wing Cort 40 metres out. He still had a lot to do and was half stopped 5 metres out but had the momentum to get over the line for the score.
The see saw nature of the game continued with the visitors regaining the lead in the 25th minute when impressive hooker Dylan Kelly powered over from short range.
Gowerton were back in front 4 minutes later when Packham kicked a second penalty, this time for failing to release. Then three minutes before the break they stretched their lead with the best try of the game started from deep within their 22. From a scrum, scrum half Sam Wells fed centre Davies who burst clear, he looked like he would be tackled on halfway, however his clever offload put flanker Sam Terry in space and he produced an excellent turn of pace to outstrip the cover and score a try that gave his side a 16-10 advantage at the turn around.
The third quarter saw NPTC taking control of the game with No.8 Brandon Jones and lock Evan Mulligan both helping their side to dominate possession. Fly half Anthony Williams sliced through the defence to reduce the deficit to a point following a quickly tapped penalty 5 metres out and then 4 minutes later they were in front when wing Billy Wright crossed out wide.
The visitors increased their lead as the game entered the final quarter when fly half Williams crossed for his second try from short range this time following a scrum 5 metres out.
The hosts were determined not to go down without a fight and with flanker Caradog Kaniewski and lock and man of the match Robyn Williams both working tirelessly they searched for the score that would get them back in touch, it arrived with two minutes left on the watch, great work by wing Olly Freeman gave flanker Kaniewski the room to put centre Zak Johns clear and he strode under the posts for a try that fly half Packham converted.
Gowerton pushed for a winning score but the NPTC defence refused to yield and they returned home with a deserved win.