Effort aplenty but no reward for 1st XV.
Line up: Both teams with referee Nigel Whitehouse and Mrs Pam Evans.
XV1af Tregwyr: 7
XV 1af Coleg Crist, Aberhonddu: 20.
Gowerton1st XV:7
Christ College, Brecon 1st XV: 20.
Coleg Crist yn fuddugol ac ni ddangoswyd unrhyw drugaredd.
Christ College triumph in game where no quarter is asked for or given.
Healthy crowd: There was a good turnout for the game at Gowerton RFC.
Gowerton School’s 1stXV entertained Christ College, Brecon in the 4thannual memorial game. The match was played in memory of the school’s former Head of PE, Robert Evans. Robert was a highly respected member of the local community who was remembered as a very talented sportsman who had played both rugby and cricket to representative level. More importantly he was respected for the values of honesty, integrity, humility and sportsmanship that he epitomised both on and off the field of play.
Towering: Lock Billy Howes dominated the lineouts.
The game proved to be a fitting tribute to his memory with both teams totally committed at forward and playing with a determination to move the ball through the hands at every opportunity.
The game was officiated by former international referee Nigel Whitehouse. In the early stages it was the hosts who looked dangerous and in the 9th minute they almost opened the scoring when centre Steffan Tyrrell made a break in midfield but his potential scoring pass was deflected by a defender and the threat was defused.
Having survived the hosts’ early pressure it was the visitors who then took control of the game with the back row of Abdul Alothman, Alex Ryan and Jacob Lewis controlling the breakdown and they took the lead in the 15th minute when their pack proved unstoppable with a forward drive and impressive lock and forward of the game Dom Hayes claimed the touch down. Fly half James Newey added the conversion and then added a second two minutes later when straight from the kick off an excellent handling move involving almost all of the team was ended with wing Alex Bush crossing in the corner.
The hosts’ confidence could have been shaken by conceding two tries so quickly, but the opposite was the case and they responded positively. The forwards impressively led by captain Joel Young took the game to the visitors. Lock Billy Howes was a towering presence at the lineout while hooker Rhys Cherry carried strongly and regularly got the hosts over the advantage line. Behind the scrum impressive full back Keelan Giles was a constant threat. However, the visitors defence was watertight with half backs Will Trumper, fly half Newey, centre and captain Alex Davies and full back Harrison Kent all defending strongly while centre Ben Wigmore was the visitors outstanding back and at half time the visitors led 14-0.
At the start of the second half it was Gowerton’s turn to defend as the visitors pressed for another score, but the hosts’ defence was equally solid with No.8 Young, fly half Callum Macdermott, centre Shane Harris and full back Giles all making crucial tackles.
In fact, it was the hosts who scored next in the 48th minute when they broke out of defence. The initial attack was thwarted, but the defensive kick was gathered by wing Lewis Brooks who made good ground before finding hooker Cherry, he put man of the match Giles in space 30 metres out and he confidently beat the last defender to score a try converted by fly half Macdermott.
In the last quarter, both teams pressed for the next score, but defences remained impregnable and the only points came from two penalties by visitors’ outside half Newey who maintained a 100% record from the tee. At the final whistle it was they who had achieved a well deserved victory 20-6.
