Wednesday 24th February 2016.

Clayfield hat-trick puts year 10 in charge.

Bishop Vaughan year 10: 5 Gowerton year 10: 47.

The Year 10 squad

Back from left: Nick Gabriel,James Hicks, Ethan Truelove, Ben Grunhut, Ellis Searle, Lewis Grove, Iwan Jones, Danny Thomas.

Front from left: Will Griffiths, Tom Barrington,James Northey, Cameron Clayfield (capt), Iwan Crawford, Leon Bevan, Danny Owen, Jacob Williams.

Gowerton’s year 10 team travelled to Bishop Vaughan for a friendly and produced an impressive performance that saw them cross for seven tries. Despite the final score line indicating a comprehensive win for the visitors the first half was extremely competitive with both sides pressing for scores and it was only Gowerton’s strong defensive work that gave them the advantage.

For the visitors prop Nick Gabriel, lock James Hicks and the back row of Will Griffiths, Lewis Grove and Leon Bevan all produced some fearless tackles. Flanker Bevan’s work at the breakdown secured his side a number of turnovers and earned him the man of the match award. Behind the scrum, half backs Jacob Williams, Iwan Jones and Cameron Clayfield marshalled their outside backs well and centres James Northey and Alex Crawford and wings Ellis Searle and Danny Owen all ran elusively.

Cameron Clayfield releases his outside backs.

            Bishop Vaughan were well served by the defensive work of flankers Darragh Tunay and Harrison Doherty. Fly half Liam Thomas ran strongly and full back Ryan Anderson’s excellent footwork made him an elusive runner, whilst the pace of the fastest player on the pitch, wing Miah Buliyani meant he was a constant threat.

The game kicked off, with conditions ideal for open, running rugby and it was the hosts who applied the early pressure until a crunching tackle from flanker Will Griffiths dislodged the ball and allowed a counter attack that led to fly half Cameron Clayfield opening the scoring. Iwan Jones added the extras.

         Will Griffiths, whose crunching tackle led to the first try.

           The hosts responded immediately and reduced the deficit in the 8^th minute when the dangerous Buliyani sprinted clear and crossed for an unconverted try. However, Gowerton’s impressive handling continued to create openings and they extended their lead with two more tries before half time. The first was scored by centre James Northey after good work by co-centre Alex Crawford, hooker Danny Thomas then crossed for a try that Iwan Jones converted and the visitors led 19-5 at the break.

The second period saw Gowerton gradually getting stronger and they crossed for four further tries. The excellent distribution of centres Northey and Jacob Williams allowed Alex Crawford to score.

Alex Crawford demonstrates great technique with the ball in both hands.

Then a great run out of defence by full back Tom Barrington, carried on by wing Ellis Searle gave fly half Clayfield the room to cross for his second try. Clayfield completed his hat-trick after a strong run from flanker Lewis Grove and then in the final minute scrum half Iwan Jones sprinted clear to cross beneath the posts and with Jones adding all four conversions, the final score was a 47-5 win for the visitors, that was scant reward for the hard work of the hosts.