Gowerton power past Penyrheol in Swansea cup.

Gowerton year 8: 29 Penyrheol year 8: 17.

Gowerton’s victorious squad.

Three try burst takes year 8 into the semi final.

Gowerton’s year 8 team moved into the semi final of the Swansea schools’ cup competition when they defeated neighbours Penyrheol 29-17. However, the result was very much in doubt until the final whistle. The scores were tied with two minutes left on the clock and Penyrheol held the advantage with both teams having scored 3 tries as they were the away team.

Tim Perkins looks for possession at the base of a ruck.

Penyrheol started as favourites having defeated the hosts 21-0 earlier in the season and kicked off. They were in front in the 2^nd minute when wing Dylan Cort rounded his opposite number to score in the corner. Gowerton responded immediately and were back on level terms in the 5^th minute. Good work by prop Ethan Hall allowed him to steal possession in a maul. He was halted 5 metres short, prop Mabon Kaniewski and lock Connor Williams both drove forward before eventually No.8 Tim Perkins dived over.

The visitors dominated the next quarter with flanker Dylan Price winning the contact area and prop Mattias Street driving forward strongly. Gowerton conceded a number of penalties at the breakdown and fly half Joe Burder kept his side going forward. In the 23^rd minute they regained the lead when prop Karl Kitchen powered over beneath the posts. Fly half Burder added the extras and Penyrheol reached the break leading 12-5.

Connor Williams powers towards the try line.

Gowerton reduced the arrears in the 29^th minute when No.8 and man of the match Perkins powered deep into the visitors’ half. Penyrheol halted the initial threat, but from the resulting lineout Alex Jones skilfully beat two defenders to score.

The visitors continued to look dangerous with fly half Burder, centre Danny Devey and wing Olly Price all looking dangerous with ball in hand and re-established their lead in the 36^th minute when wing Price showed both his pace and his strength to score in the corner.

The hosts now controlled the final quarter with prop Kaniewski, lock Williams and No.8 Perkins all carrying strongly while flankers Josh Thomas and Rhys Jones and hooker Rhys Flower all worked tirelessly in the forward exchanges and with fly half Joel Matuschke increasingly influential they were level again in the 38^th minute when Perkins burst clear on half way and sprinted to score beneath the posts. Fly half Matuschke converted.

John Edwards powers over to score the try that gave Gowerton the lead.

Gowerton realised they needed to score again if they were to progress and with two minutes left on the clock Perkins hacked the ball up field and forced the visitors to minor. Penyrheol were penalised after the ensuing scrum and lock Edwards powered over to give his side the lead for the first time. Matuschke converted. From the restart, Gowerton produced their best play of the game, controlling possession through multiple phases and going the length of the field for lock Williams to score in the corner. The final whistle followed and Gowerton will host the winners of the Olchfa, Pontarddulais and Morriston ties in the semi final.