Gowerton buoyed by Marshall brace.
Double: Wing Jordan Marshall grabbed a brace of tries.
Tregwyr yncadwei record100%.
Year 11 maintain 100% league record.
Bl. 11 BCP-Eastside:17 Bl.11 Tregwyr: 35
BCP-Eastside yr 11:17 Gowerton yr 11: 35.
In their third Welsh schools’ cup group game, Gowerton travelled to Bonymaen RFC to play the newly formed BCP Eastside schools year 11 team. BCP is a combined side from Birchgrove, Cefn Hengoed and Pentrehafod and had been formed to enable the rugby players of the three schools to be able to play in the cup competition.
Determined: Full back Keelan Giles tries to break clear.
There were bound to be initial problems as the team gained an understanding of each others play, but the performance gave promising signs for the future as they were more than competitive with Gowerton.
For BCP, flanker James Osborne (Cefn Hengoed) competed well in the loose and fly half Lawrence Thomas (Birchgrove) marshalled his backs well, but it was Gowerton’s greater ability as a team that allowed them to emerge with a win. Gowerton’s pack held most of the aces up front with prop Tom Northey, hooker Luke Snell, lock Max Harris and flanker Jack Cambriani all prominent whilst No.8 Ethan Harris’ dynamic display earned him the man of the match award.
Gowerton’s greater cohesion saw them score three tries in the first 10 minutes. Good work by scrum half Callum Lewis and hooker Snell gave centre Steffan Tyrrell the room to sprint clear from 30 metres. Elusive running by full back Keelan Giles established a position close to the BCP line from which captain Will Jones, whose leadership of the team continues to impress, was able to score. Giles added a try of his own after good work by centre Rhys Evans.
The hosts gradually found their feet and were deservedly next on the board in the 15th minute when wing Carl Lewis (Birchgrove) showed impressive pace to outstrip the defence and score a try that captain Lewis Bullock (Birchgrove) converted.
At half time Gowerton’s lead was 15-7 but the combined side were competing strongly.
Good ball: Lock Max Harris wins clean lineout possession.
Gowerton started the second half on the front foot and an excellent turnover by flanker Cambriani allowed wing Brandon Gordon to score in the 28th minute and five minutes later good work by Gordon released fellow wing Jordan Marshall to score his side’s fifth try.
BCP continued to play positively and they were rewarded with tries for centre Harry Wilkinson and wing Alex Tregembo (both Pentrehafod), but it was Gowerton who had the final word with tries for lock Will Griffiths and a second for wing Marshall.
The final group game sees Gowerton now entertain the other undefeated side in the group, Ystalyfera at Waunarlwydd RFC on Tuesday kick off 3.30pm.
Dydd Mercher Hydref 9ed 2013 Wednesday 9th October 2013.
Bl.11 Llangatwg:21 Bl.11 Tregwyr:17
Llangatwg yr11: 21Gowerton yr11: 17.
Drama munud olaf a Tregwyr yn ceisio adfer o ddechreuad gwael
Last gasp drama as Gowerton can’t recover from early deficit.
The team also travelled for a friendly against Llangatwg and it was the hosts that emerged with the win in a game where the two sides shared 6 tries.
Gowerton took time to settle into the game and the hosts were 21-0 ahead just after half time. Llangatwg’s pack, well led by second row Kyle Evans controlled possession with hooker Rhys Stroud, lock Rhys Davies and props Josh Morgan and Rhys Lambert all prominent. With a consistent stream of possession scrum half Dylan Evans’ probing runs created constant problems for Gowerton’s defence and led to tries for outside half Rhys Herbert (2) and centre Aled Cockwell. Herbert converted all three tries.
Turnover: Jamie Hurlow looks to win possession.
Gowerton gradually picked up the pace of their game, and following several quick tap penalties prop Tom Northey barrelled over. Fly half Oliver Smith converted.
More quick interplay by the forwards led to wing Brandon Gordon going over and with ten minutes to go the game was back in the balance when hooker Luke Snell crossed. Both conversions were missed and Gowerton trailed by four points.
In the last play of the game, Gowerton’s impressive full back Jordan Penhalagon broke clear but slipped as he tried to beat the last man, the hosts were able to clear and at the final whistle they had achieved a victory their first half dominance had earned.
Photographs: Philip Jones year 11
