Year 7 comeback seals fine win.
Bishop Gore yr 7: 10 Gowertonyr 7:15.
Man of the match: Gowerton flanker Rhys Jones.
Captain Simons’ last gasp tackle ensures victory for Gowerton.
Gowerton’s year 7 rugby team travelled to Bishop Gore to take on the hosts. Despite the incessant rain that had fallen all day, the pitch at Sketty Lane was in remarkably good condition, however, the overhead conditions of a strong downfield wind and heavy rain that fell throughout the game meant that handling was going to be very difficult.
To their credit, the skills of many of the players on show belied those conditions and they served up an entertaining encounter that was in the balance until the final whistle.
The hosts had the advantage of the strong wind in the first half and with No.8 Calwyn Martin a powerful and impressive ball carrier and flanker Edward Rees terrier like in the forward exchanges they held the upper hand. Bishop Gore took the lead in the 21stminute when No.8 Martin picked up from the base of a scrum on half way and set off on a great run that saw him hold off a number of tacklers before scoring in the corner.
Great technique: flanker Josh Thomas carries the ball in two hands.
There were no further scores before half time as Gowerton’s back row of Josh Thomas, Rhys Jones and Jack Griffiths all defended strongly.
The second half kicked off with the visitors having the advantage of the wind in their favour and they were confident that they could overturn the deficit, but the hosts were determined opponents and with wing Harry Booth an elusive runner, it was they who increased their lead when centre Ike Fabb showed great pace to sprint 60 metres to score a try that doubled their lead in the 28th minute.
Gowerton needed to respond quickly and to their credit they did so. They were level within five minutes with prop Connor Williams grabbing a brace of tries. The first in the 30thminute followed an incisive run from man of the match, flanker Rhys Jones and the second came after wing Daniel Warne stole the ball in a tackle 30 metres out and although he was tackled just short of the line, prop Williams was on hand to pick up and power over in the 33rd minute.
Both teams strove for the winning score and it came with only two minutes left on the clock when scrum half and captain Jac Simons picked up from the base of a 5 metre scrum and beat the blindside defence to touch down.
On the charge: Rhys Jones takes on the Bishop Gore defence.
The hosts were not going to go down without a fight and they almost grabbed an equalising try when wing Booth looked certain to score in the corner only to be denied by a fantastic cover tackle by scrum half Simons. The final whistle followed and although Gowerton had achieved the win, both teams earned great credit for the spirit and commitment they had shown in the very difficult conditions.
