Tuesday 19th January 2016.
Gowerton double up at Pentrehafod.
Pentrehafod year 10: 10 Gowerton year 10: 36
Clayfield hat-trick seals year 10 win.
Leon Bevan, Cameron Clayfield and Alex Crawford all ‘pack a punch’.
A welcome break in the recent wet weather allowed Gowerton to travel to Pentrehafod for games at year 8 and 10 level. Both games were very competitive with the hosts particularly strong at forward.
In the year 10 game, Pentrehafod’s powerful driving game with both flanker Rhys Bolton and No.8 Tamin Morgan prominent allowed them to take the game to the visitors from the start, but the visitors’ defence was solid with prop Tom Clarke, hooker Danny Thomas and No.8 Lewis Grove all to the fore.
Gowerton’s win was based on their strong defensive effort.
It was this strong defensive effort that led to both of their first two tries. First centre James Northey gathered a ball spilled in a tackle in his 22 and sprinted clear for a try that he converted himself. Then another strong tackle allowed centre Northey to kick upfield. Pentrehafod initially repulsed the attack, before lock Ben Grunhut powered over from 10 metres.
The visitors stretched their lead in the 16th minute when scrum half Jacob Williams scooted around the blind side of a scrum to touch down. They then added a fourth try when excellent handling involving centre Alex Crawford, full back Tom Barrington and wing Danny Owen allowed Crawford the room to sprint clear, when his route to the try line was cut off his well judged cross kick allowed fly half Cameron Clayfield to score a try he converted himself.
James Northey (above) and Cameron Clayfield (below) both added conversions.
Despite being behind on the scoreboard, Pentrehafod continued to press with full back Cameron Evans and centre Matthew Hutchinson both creating opportunities and they were rewarded in the 23rd minute when No.8 Tamin Morgan crossed.
The fact that they weren’t able to add to this score was down to the impressive defensive work of the visitors with man of the match Ethan Truelove making try saving tackles either side of half time.
Gowerton stretched their lead with two more Clayfield tries, the first after a break by centre Crawford and the second after good work by hooker Danny Thomas. Clayfield added one conversion.
However, it was Pentrehafod who had the final say when No.8 Morgan crossed to complete the scoring.
Six star Gowerton come out on top.
Pentrehafod year 8: 12 Gowerton year 8: 36
The year 8 game was again more competitive than the final score suggested. Impressive for the hosts were back row forwards William Ellis, Rhys Stebbings and Sam Bolton who all carried and tackled strongly. They scored two tries with No.8 Bolton and centre Dylan Scott-James both crossing. Fly half Jaden Fowler kicked one conversion.
In reply, Gowerton always had the edge with prop Izaak Beck and wing Sean Garrington both impressing with their ability to offload prior to contact.
Gowerton scored six tries with a brace apiece for flanker Teigue Williams and wing Ethan Lee. Centre Gavin Williams and flanker Ryan Stagg also crossed and Flanker Adam Williams, fly half Kieran Bevan and centre Williams added a conversion apiece.
Photographs: Iwan Jones year 10.
