Thursday 18th January 2018.
Year 9 impress at Bryntawe
Bryntawe year 9: 34 Gowerton year 9: 68
Gowerton’s year 9 team got their post Christmas fixtures underway when they travelled to Bryntawe for a game in which the two sides produced a feast of open running rugby.
The hosts were well served up front by lock Toby Porter and No.8 Ellis Fish who competed well in the contact area whilst behind the scrum, wing Ethan Burn’s pace was a constant threat.
Man of the match Will Thomas looks for space.
The visitors held the advantage behind the scrum with the impressive distribution of half backs Sam Wells and Paul Packham regularly releasing their outside backs where centres Joe Hawkins-Cole and Will Thomas, wings Chris Antellis-Davies and Raffi Richards and full back Taylor John were all a constant threat with their elusive footwork and pace creating regular opportunities.
Gowerton got off to a flying start when directly from the kick off they broke clear and good work by hooker Billy Mansell and No.8 Caradog Kaniewski allowed lock Kian Webb to open the scoring.
Alfie Woodcock competes for a lineout.
With their confidence boosted by the early score, the visitors attacked at every opportunity and with fly half Packham pulling the strings intelligently they dominated territory and the hosts were forced to defend resolutely and with No.8 Ellis Fish and fly half Corey Hurford both tackling tenaciously they initially kept their line in tact, but a brace from wing Antellis-Davies opened the floodgates and two tries from wing Vikran Sanghera and others from full back John and prop Henry Aiono, two of which were converted by fly half Packham put Gowerton in complete control.
Bryntawe continued to carry a threat when in possession and on the stroke of half time they opened their account when good work by lock Toby Porter gave wing Burn an opportunity and he sprinted clear from 30 metres to open his side’s account.
The visitors were first on the board in the second period when fly half Packham executed an excellent cross kick inside his own 22 that full back John gathered without breaking stride and sprinted 80 metres to score a try that Packham converted.
The hosts responded positively and reduced the deficit with a brace of tries of their own, the first followed a powerful run by lock Porter and the second came after a pacy run from wing Burn. Fly half Corey Hurford converted one of them.
Jamie Bevan competes for the loose ball.
The game continued with its end to end nature in the second period and it was the visitors’ turn to grab a brace of tries, a kick and chase out of defence resulted in full back John completing his hat trick and then a powerful run by prop Alfie Woodcock set up wing Raffi Richards who sprinted 40 metres to score in the corner.
Bryntawe were determined to play positively and produced their best spell of the game scoring three tries with lock Porter, No.8 Fish and wing Burn again impressing. Fly half Hurford added a conversion.
But it was Gowerton that ended the game on the front foot. First, a fine passing move involving most of the backs resulted in centre Joe Hawkins-Cole crossing, then with the final move of the game a strong run by man of the match Will Thomas allowed fly half Packham to score beneath the posts. He added the extras to both scores and Gowerton returned home victorious 68-34.
Bryntawe year 7: 43 Gowerton year 7: 5
The Bryntawe and Gowerton year 7 squads.
The two schools also played a year 7 game and it was the hosts who came out on top by 43-5. For the hosts the star of the show was centre Harrison Doe who crossed for three tries and also added a conversion. He was well supported by props Noah Newcombe and Cameron Hartnell, wing Ellis Edwards and fly half Jacob Abbott who scored a try apiece. Abbott added 3 conversions.
For the visitors, the pack produced some excellent scrummaging with Jake Brophy and Dogukan Yildrum both to the fore. Scrum half Charlie Steadman, full back Rhys Craven, lock Finn Sutton and Scott Bennett also produced fine performances. Fly half Sam John was Gowerton’s best player and was rewarded with their try.
