Thursday 15^th October 2015.

Honours even in tense battle.

Gowerton year 10: 17 Bryntawe year 10: 17.

 Clayfield double and great defence key factors in draw.

The two teams after a hard fought but well contested draw.

 Gowerton year 10 entertained Bryntawe at the Elba and after an epic struggle, at full time, it was impossible to separate the two sides and they deservedly shared the spoils.

The initial stages saw the visitors on top with their forwards looking stronger in the set piece where lock Gareth Stone and No.8 Joe Davies both had an impact whilst behind the scrum strong running centre Dan Evans was a constant threat and full back Luke Butler and wing Nick Williams were both pacey runners. However, Gowerton’s defence was unflinching with lock Reid Davies, flanker Leon Bevan half backs Iwan Jones and Cameron Clayfield, centres Danny Thomas and Lewis Grove and wing Danny Owen all making crucial tackles.

Wing Owen’s defensive work saw him rewarded with the man of the match tag.

 Mabon Kaniewski gets to grips with an opponent.

The hosts’ strong defence was rewarded in the 10^th minute when scrum half Jones attacked the blind side of a scrum, wing Owen took the ball on and then fed fly half Clayfield on his inside who crossed for a try that opened the scoring.

The visitors responded immediately and were in front two minutes later when a powerful run by centre Evans saw him brush aside several would be tacklers to score beneath the posts and fly half Iwan Beggs converted. In the 22^nd minute Bryntawe wing Williams looked certain to score in the corner only to be denied by a fantastic cover tackle from flanker Leon Bevan. However, the respite was only short lived as the visitors won the lineout and prop Dylan Price-Jones used his strength to power over.

Gowerton reduced the deficit on the stroke of half time when good work by centre Lewis Grove gave scrum half Jones the space to scamper over for a try that left the visitors in front by two points at the break.

 Half time was a to take on board some fluids.

Bryntawe began the second half on the front foot with half backs Beggs and scrum half Liam Seward both elusive runners and it took another great last ditch tackle, this time by lock Davies, to stop them increasing their lead. However, the score arrived from the resulting scrum when No.8 Davies picked up and drove over.

The hosts now enjoyed their best spell of the game with impressive half backs Jones and Clayfield increasingly influential and with 10 minutes to go Clayfield scored a fine individual try beating three defenders with a jinking run that took him beneath the posts. Jones added the extras to tie the scores.

 Lewis Grove has Cameron Clayfield, Danny Thomas and Leon Bevan all close by.

Both teams attacked during the final minutes, but defences held firm and it was fitting that the game having been played in such excellent spirit and with a high level of commitment from both sides ended with the scores tied and honours even.

 Iwan Jones fires out a pass to Cameron Clayfield.

Photographs: Garin Thomas year 10.