Thursday 3^rd March 2016.

Confident year 10  progress to cup semi-final.

Gowerton year 10: 32 Bryntawe year 10: 17.

Centre James Northey looks to evade a tackle.

Gowerton’s year 10 team entertained Bryntawe in the quarter final of the Swansea schools’ cup at Gowerton RFC and it was the hosts who moved confidently into the semi final with a 32-17 victory.

Despite the recent poor weather, the pitch was in excellent condition, and underfoot conditions were ideal for a fast and open game and neither side disappointed. The hosts kicked off playing into the stiff breeze and with half backs Iwan Jones and Cameron Clayfield orchestrating play with impressive maturity, the hosts controlled territory and took the lead in the 8^th minute when scrum half Jones kicked a penalty from 20 metres.

Scrum half Iwan Jones breaks from the base of a scrum.

Gowerton increased their lead in the 13^th minute when good handling saw the ball moved across both sides of the field allowing centre Jacob Williams to slice through a gap. He was tackled just short but offloaded to flanker Leon Bevan who crossed in the corner. In the 21^st minute, a well judged kick by scrum half Jones created difficulties for the visitors, lock Reid Davies followed up to make an excellent tackle allowing hooker Danny Thomas to profit and he crossed for a try that scrum half Jones converted.

Bryntawe had powerful runners in centre Joe Davies and flanker Rhys Morgan and 4 minutes before the break a powerful and elusive run by Morgan established a position that allowed full back Nicky Williams to burst clear and cross in the corner. Gowerton’s lead was 15-5 at the interval.

Leon Bevan leaps high to secure a line out.

 Captain Cameron Clayfield takes on his opposite number.

With the breeze in their favour in the second period, the hosts again started on the front foot and in the opening minute of the second period a strong tackle by prop Tom McCann won possession and another intelligent kick by scrum half Jones was perfectly weighted for him to win the chase and touch down. In the 38^th minute, the best move of the match saw the hosts moving the ball through numerous sets of hands with both centre Jacob Williams and flanker Leon Bevan prominent before centre James Northey strode over for a score to which scrum half Jones added the extras. Then with 15 minutes left, fly half Clayfield scored the try his individual performance merited, when good work by wing Danny Underhill and full back Tom Barrington gave him the opportunity to do so.

Jacob Williams (above) and Man of the match Will Griffiths (below) both agreed that rugby should be a non-contact sport.

The visitors dominated the final quarter and first centre Davies and then flanker Nicholls crossed for tries, one of which fly half Iwan Beggs converted. The fact that they weren’t able to add to these, was due to the excellent defensive work of wing Jack Cosker, No.8 Lewis Grove, prop Ethan Truelove and notably flanker Will Griffiths whose relentless effort earned him the man of match award.

At the final whistle, Gowerton moved confidently into the semi-final where they will travel to play Gwyr.

Gowerton’s year 8 team travelled to Bishop Gore and in a game of ten tries they reurned with a 47-21 victory. Tries were scored by Darragh Cahill (3), Alex Hughes (2), Peter Legg-Davies and Ethan Lee. Hughes added six conversions whilst the strong running of prop Legg-Davies won him the man of the match award.

Photos: Alex Crawford year 10.