Tuesday 20th and Thursday 22nd October 2015.
Honours even for Gowerton and Pontarddulais.
Gowerton and Pontarddulais’s junior teams were involved in four junior games which ended honours even with each school enjoying a pair of wins.
Pontarddulais yr 10: 52 Gowerton yr 10: 0
Preparing for a lineout.
All four games were played at Pontarddulais. In the year 10 game the hosts powered to a convincing win 52-0. They scored eight tries, No.8 Morgan Warburton crossed for 4 of them and lock Louie Walters, scrum half Evan Hurlow, centre Jay Ashby and fly half Jack Hurlow scored one apiece and fly half Hurlow added six conversions.
For Gowerton there were good performances from prop Tom Clarke, hooker Gareth Aylott and wing Ellis Searle.
Pontarddulais yr 9: 5 Gowerton yr 9: 43
Josh Thomas looks to ‘jackal’ the ball.
In the year 9 game, Gowerton were confident winners achieving success 43-5. They took the lead in the 7th minute when a break by lock Alex Jones released wing Ben Petherbridge who glided home from 40 metres. Centre Luc Jones crossed five minutes later and fly half Joel Matuschke converted. The visitors stretched their lead with three further tries before half time. First flanker and man of the match Josh Thomas returned a misdirected clearance kick, prop Mabon Kaniewski achieved a turnover on half way that allowed full back Matthew Newcombe to sprint clear before centre Jacob Turatto powered over. Fly half half Matuschke added one conversion.
The hosts were on the front foot at the start of the second half with prop James Williams, fly half Tom Davies and full back Bradley Evans all doing well. They were rewarded when No.8 Louie Walters surged over. However, Gowerton finished the stronger and wing Daniel Warne and scrum half Jac Simons scored tries that Matuschke converted.
Pontarddulais yr 8: 17 Gowerton yr 8: 14
Peter Legg-Davies on the charge.
Pontarddulais were narrow winners 17-14 of the year 8 game. A hat-trick by powerful No.8 James Williams saw them race into a 17 point lead but in the second half, tries by centres Sam Cartwright and Teigue Williams both converted by fly half Keiron Bevan reduced the deficit. Gowerton pressed for a winning score but the hosts’ defence stood firm and they remained in front at full time.
Pontarddulais yr 7: 19 Gowerton yr 7: 31
The year 7 game was equally as competitive with Gowerton eventually coming out on top 31-19. The result was in the balance until the final minute when Gowerton crossed for their final score. Pontarddulais started confidently with Jack Hughes impressive in the contact area and fly half Jacob Jones an elusive runner. By half time they had established a 12 point lead thanks to tries by No.8 Dylan Jones and centre Jacob Bemrose one of which was converted by scrum half Ryan Thomas.
Sam Cartwright scores for year 8.
Gowerton responded positively in the second half and a brace of tries apiece by No.8 Caradog Kaniewski and wing Ryan Collins, two of which were converted by fly half Paul Packham meant the visitors held a comfortable lead. Pontarddulais weren’t going to capitulate without a fight and when centre Bemrose crossed for his second try and scrum half Thomas converted the result was back in the balance. However, the Gowerton back row of Kaniewski, Ben Cort and Kian Webb were the most influential players on the pitch and they controlled the contact area in the final minutes. With the final play of the game, an elusive run by centre Joe Hawkins-Cole set up wing Will Thomas for a try that Packham converted to confirm Gowerton’s win.
