Gowerton power into the semi-final
Gwyr year 11: 12 Gowerton year 11: 30
Ham, Griffiths, Makahleh, Rees and Penhalagan all score as five star yr 11 prove too strong for Gwyr.
Gowerton’s year 11 team travelled to play Gwyr in the quarter final of the Swansea schools cup and produced their best performance of the season to move confidently one game away from a final appearance at St. Helens.
Gwyr came into the game as favourites having progressed to the quarter final of the Welsh Cup, but they were unable to cope with the power and determination of the visitors’ forwards for whom the back row of Will Griffiths, Jamie Jones and man of the match Danial Rogers were outstanding.
The game kicked off with conditions ideal for handling and the early stages were well balanced with Gwyr looking to play the game quickly and utilise the pace of their outside backs with both centre Dafydd Moscrop and wing Ryan McEwan both looking dangerous when in space. Gowerton held the advantage in the set piece with the front row of Morgan Evans, Ben Brown and Ryan Hughes on top in the scrums whilst lock Jason Stagg was the dominant player in the lineouts.
Flanker Will Griffiths sets off on the run that leads to him opening the scoring.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when a powerful run by flanker Will Griffiths allowed him to brush aside several would be tacklers and sprint 30 metres to score a try that centre Kieran Charles converted.
Centre Tom Ham dives over for the second try.
Gowerton stretched their lead four minutes later with a fine individual try by centre Tom Ham. He broke up a Gwyr attack inside his 22, ripped the ball clear in the tackle and sprinted 80 metres to touch down. Buoyed by this score, Gowerton dominated the next quarter with No.8 Rogers carrying strongly and centres Ham and Charles a constant threat in possession and they stretched their lead in the 33rd minute when prop Ryan Hughes powered forward he fed flanker Will Griffiths who burst clear and committed the last man to give Samer Makahleh a 30 metre run to score in the corner.
Wing Samer Makahleh looks to take on his opposite number.
Gwyr opened their account on the stroke of half time when they were awarded a penalty try that was converted by centre Dafydd Moscrop and Gowerton’s lead at the break was 17-7.
Fly half Jordan Penhalagan looks for a gap.
The hosts started the second half on the front foot with flanker Tom Davies achieving a number of turnovers at the breakdown and lock Owain Davies and prop Alex Sims both driving strongly, but Gowerton’s defence was unyielding with fly half Jordan Penhalagan, full back Lewis Hyatt, prop Hughes and flanker Griffiths all making telling contributions and despite their pressure the hosts were unable to add to their score. In the 55th minute Gowerton strengthened their grip on the game when good work by No.8 Rogers released centre Charles and his half break and clever offload allowed wing Elliott Rees to cross in the corner.
However, Gwyr were back in contention three minutes later when centre Dafydd Moscrop sliced through the defence to score.
It was Gowerton who finished the game on the front foot. Centre Charles stretched the lead with a penalty from 20 metres conceded for offside and then in the 66th minute a clever chip ahead by centre Ham was well gathered by fly half Penhalagan who dived over in the corner and it was the visitors who travel to play the winners of the Olchfa and BCP Eastside game in the semi-final.
Man of the match: Danial Rogers.
Photographs: Lloyd Dudley-Jones and Nicholas Williams year 11.
