Llangatwg year 9: 29 Gowerton year 9: 20.
Gowerton year 9 travelled to Llangatwg and having been heavily beaten by the hosts when the two teams met before Christmas, they knew they faced a tough challenge.
The hosts settled quickly with their forwards dominating the contact area. Prop Thomas Smith, lock Jake Bevan and No.8 Levi Slocombe all carried strongly and raced to a 12 point lead within 8 minutes. Wings Jackson Pugh and William Pritchard crossed in the corners and scrum half Lewis Ridge added a conversion.
The visitors realised that their best option was to play the game at pace and with scrum half and captain Cameron Clayfield and hooker Danny Thomas both alert to the opportunities to counter attack, they began to speed the game up giving Llangatwg’s defence little chance to organise itself.
Gowerton reduced the arrears in the 16th minute when good work by props Ben Grunhut and Bradley Davies-Steele and lock and man of the match Reid Davies allowed No.8 Lewis Pennington to crash over.
Llangatwg’s outside backs continued to carry a threat with their pace and they stretched their lead on the stroke of half time when full back Elliott Pavell crossed in the corner.
The game was evenly balanced after the break and both sides had chances before Llangatwg’s centre Bradley Roderick broke clear on half way and sprinted 50 metres for a try that fly half Owain Vaughan converted. This score only served to stiffen Gowerton’s resolve and they scored tries in the 38th and 42nd minute. The first was claimed by lock Ben Grunhut after a driving lineout and the second was scored by captain Clayfield after strong runs from lock Davies, flanker Lewis Grove, who again impressed with his tireless effort, and No.8 Pennington.
The hosts ensured victory in the 46th minute when fine handling allowed scrum half Ridge to cross in the corner. However, it was Gowerton who had the final say when they were awarded a penalty try after flanker Leon Bevan had established a position close to Llangatwg’s try line.
Flanker Leon Bevan whose good work helped to set up the final try.
Next week Gowerton entertain Bishop Vaughan on Tuesday in the first round of the Swansea schools’ cup.
