Year 9 pipped by Gwyr.
Blwyddyn9 Gwyr:28 Tregwyr:22.
Gwyr year 9: 28 Gowerton year 9: 22
Adfywiad yn yr ail hanner yn trechu Blwyddyn 9 wrol.
Gwyr’s second half recovery denies brave yr 9.
Gowerton made the short trip across Park Roadto take on neighbours Gwyr in a ‘friendly’. With both teams having been involved in cup games over the last two weeks, the teams took the opportunity to rotate their squads to give players the chance to press their claims for inclusion in future cup games.
Due to the recent rain the field was very heavy under foot. However, it didn’t stop both teams from attempting, and on many occasions achieving an expansive game.
‘Due to the recent rain the field was very heavy under foot.’
In the first quarter, with half backs Dominic Greeno and Jesse Howes probing intelligently, it was the visitors who enjoyed the greater share of the game and with centre Rhys Evans a powerful ball carrier and No.8 and man of the match Ethan Harris achieving several turnovers at the breakdown, Gowerton dominated territory and took the lead in the 5th minute after good work from centres Jordan Richards and Evans allowed prop Sam Clark to pick up and drive over for a try that went unconverted.
Gowerton doubled their lead from the kick off when prop Sam Baran gathered the ball and set up a ruck. Fly half Howes kicked ahead and indecision at the back of the hosts’ defence allowed centre Richards to nip in, gather the ball and show his opposite numbers a ‘clean pair of heels’ and score the visitors’ second try.
Both teams had opportunities, before in the final minute of the half, excellent inter passing by the hosts’ pack with locks Gwilym Powell and Rhys Irvine prominent allowed the latter to score beneath the posts. Fly half Cellan Eynon’s conversion meant that Gowerton’s lead was only 10-7 at the break.
The second half kicked off and within two minutes Gowerton had re-established a ten point advantage when fly half Howes intercepted a loose pass on the hosts’ ’22 and outpaced the defence for a try he converted himself.
However, it was the hosts whose replacements re-energised the team the most and they enjoyed the better of the next quarter scoring three unanswered tries. The first came in the 32ndminute when wing Brandon Davies managed to get around the Gowerton defence just outside his ’22 and he sprinted 60 metres to score in the corner. Fly half Eynon added the excellent touchline conversion.
In the 39thminute, replacement centre Gareth Thomas set off on a mazy run that enabled him to score wide out and fly half Eynon again added the difficult conversion. Then in the 45th minute, a home victory seemed assured when lock Powell crossed for a try that was again converted by Eynon.
Gowerton were not going down without a fight and when lock Jacob Clark stole a lineout and dashed 30 metres to score, their victory hopes were reignited. In the final minutes, the visitors’ pressed for the score that would give them a chance of victory. Gwyr’s defence wasn’t going to buckle and at the final whistle they deserved their victory.
Both teams went away from the game content in the knowledge that they had a number of individuals who were going to push for places in the cup squads in the future.
