Thursday 24^th September 2015.

Ryde sprint tips the game Gowerton’s way.

Gowerton 1^st XV 29 St. Pauls College, Sydney 26

Great defensive effort the key to victory over tourists.

 The Gowerton and St. Pauls Catholic College squads.

 Gowerton’s 1^st XV struck an early blow for Wales in the battle of the World cup giants when they defeated Australian visitors, St Pauls College from Sydney in an exciting game of rugby that contained nine tries and saw the lead change hands several times.

St. Pauls were on the attack from the kick off with the power and slick handling of their backs posing all sorts of problems for the hosts who were only able to keep their line intact as a result of the defensive work of hooker Ben Brown, lock Jason Stagg and the back row of Tom Northey, Ethan Harris and Max Harris.

Jason Stagg and Tom Northey who were to the fore in the defensive effort make another tackle.

Gowerton were unable to relieve the pressure until the 8^th minute and it resulted in the opening score of the game when fly half Milo Fleming intercepted a pass inside his own 22 and sprinted clear. The cover got back to halt him but he was able to find supporting wing Lewis Hyatt who scored. Buoyed by the confidence of this score, the hosts added a second try when strong runs from hooker Brown and flanker Northey allowed centre Jordan Richards to gather a clever chip ahead and cross for a try that full back Olly Smith converted.

The visitors opened their account in the 16^th minute when slick handling gave wing Josh Pereira the room to score in the corner. Gowerton stretched their lead two minutes later when good work by flanker Ethan Harris and fly half Fleming led to a turnover that allowed scrum half Tom Ham to scamper away for a try that full back Smith converted and at the break Gowerton led 19-5.

Aaron Duthie is outnumbered but Milo, Jordan and Jack are close at hand.

The game was turned on its head in the first ten minutes of the second half when the visitors scored 21 unanswered points. In the 36^th minute more good handling allowed wing Matthew Millett to score. Three minutes later, a missed kick to touch allowed St. Johns to counter attack and fly half Max Jolley finished well before in the 45^th minute strong running centre Luke Poselli powered over. Poselli added the extras to all three tries and St. Pauls appeared in control, but Gowerton weren’t going to be denied and showed their resilience with scores in the 52^nd and 60^th minutes. The first came following a period of forward pressure that resulted in captain and man of the match Northey driving over and when centre Dexter Ryde intercepted a loose pass 60 metres out and showed an excellent turn of speed to sprint clear his side had regained the lead.

Jack Soproniuk leaps high to claim a lineout.

With 10 minutes left, St. Pauls attacked non-stop in an attempt to secure a win, but Gowerton’s defence refused to wilt with props David Carpanini and Ryan Hughes, flanker Jack Soproniuk and scrum half Sam Cambriani all making important contributions that denied the visitors and at full time it was Wales who had come out on top over their Antipodean visitors.