Pentrehafod year 9: 15 Gowerton year 9: 17.
Gowerton’s year 9 team made the trip across the city to Pentrehafod for a friendly fixturs in preparation for next week’s final Welsh Cup group game at Pontarddulais.
The game was a very tight affair with the two sides sharing 6 tries and only being separated by Tyler Cooper’s conversion at the end.
Pentrehafod produced the first attack with their back row of No.8 Kyle Campbell and flankers Saheb Hoque and Tom Richards all prominent, but Gowerton’s defence resisted stoutly and when prop Joe Wright turned over possession the ball was moved quickly wide and wing Elliot Chislett spotted space behind the hosts’ defence and kicked deep into their half, he regained possession and half backs Tyler Cooper and Jayden Grey were on hand to take play on, No.8 Finn Sutton went on an arcing run that saw him brush aside two tacklers before touching down to open the scoring.
Sam John makes a ‘textbook’ tackle.
The visitors, shaken by the score pushed for one of their own with prop Morgan Dyment and lock Dewi Fender both carrying strongly. Initially Gowerton’s defence was impenetrable with centre Rowan Lewis, flanker Sam John and No.8 Sutton all to the fore, but eventually the pressure told and scrum half TJ Watkins crossed to tie the scores.
Five minutes before the break, Gowerton were back in front when a ball popped out of a scrum 30 metres out and flanker John reacted quickly to gather, evade the final defender and cross for a score that meant that the visitors held a 10-5 advantage at the break.
The hosts started the second period on the front foot, and 5 minutes in, an outstanding run by flanker Hoque looked certain to lead to a score. He was denied by an excellent cover tackle by lock Sutton, centre Corey Litchfield was first to the breakdown and secured possession crossing for a try that tied the scores for the second time.
It was still all square as the game entered the final quarter, but Gowerton were now the team on the front foot with full back Charlie Steadman, wing Chislett and flanker John all looking a threat with ball in hand.
Prop Josh Barnett looks for support.
Pentrehafod attempted to run the ball out of their 22 and alert flanker Sam John intercepted and scored beneath the posts for a try that fly half Tyler Cooper converted.
Back came the hosts and with 4 minutes left on the clock their pressure told and scrum half Watkins scampered over for his second try. The conversion drifted wide and although the hosts pressed for a winning score, Gowerton’s defence with man of the match Charlie Steadman, prop Wright and No.8 Sutton all to the fore refused to yield and at the final whistle the hosts had a victory by virtue of Cooper’s conversion.
Photographs: Finlay Guard year 8.
