Six Gowerton school year 10 rugby players have been selected for Swansea schools under 15s. They are pictured with Head of Boys PE Mr David Watts.
From left: Matthew Davies, Jamie Parry, Leo Pietrapertosa, Mr Watts, Darragh Cahill, Alex Hughes and Teigue Williams.
Wednesday 8th November 2017.
Neath and Port Talbot College: 19 Gowerton School 1st XV: 18
Gowerton School’s 1st XV travelled to Llandarcy to take on Neath Port Talbot College in the Ospreys schools premier league.
The hosts kicked off looking to avenge their defeat at Gowerton in the opening round of the competition and were on the attack from the off, but Gowerton’s defence, that had proved so strong in their last fixture against Christ College, Brecon again proved difficult to breach.
A loose kick gave the visitors’ full back and captain Max Treharne the opportunity to counter attack, and skilled interplay between No. 8 Matthew Hutchinson, centres James Northey and Cameron Clayfield and hooker Leon Bevan took them into the Neath 22, but the hosts’ scramble defence was effective allowing them to turnover and clear their lines.
The game ebbed and flowed and in the 10th minute it took a try saving tackle by Gowerton wing Tom Barrington to prevent the hosts from opening the scoring. Having established an attacking position though, Neath continued on the attack and it took more excellent defensive work by prop John Edwards to again halt their progress and this time it was visiting No.8 Hutchinson with the crucial turnover that allowed them to clear their lines.
Gowerton opened the scoring in the 15th minute when an excellent double tackle from flanker Lewis Grove and scrum half Iwan Jones won them a penalty for not releasing which Jones coolly slotted.
The hosts were back on level terms when Gowerton were penalised at the restart, and fly half Joe Humphreys converted the penalty. Once again, the restart was to be an issue, but it was Neath College’s turn to be penalised for an offside infringement, centre Cameron Clayfield tapped quickly and although he was halted just short of the line from the resulting scrum No.8 Hutchinson picked up from the base and powered over for the game’s first try.
As half time approached, Neath attacked looking to level the scores and although a series of good phases edged them close to the Gowerton line, resolute defending with prop Tom McCann and lock Ryan Stagg setting the tone allowed the visitors to keep their line in tact and at the break they led 8-3.
College started the second half brightly. A penalty enabled them to kick to touch, and from that attacking platform. They moved the ball wide for wing Cai Morgan to cross in the corner and tie the scores.
Worse was to follow for Gowerton when a yellow card saw them reduced to 14 men after conceding a penalty on their own line. Fly half Humphreys added the 3 points that put his side in front for the first time.
Despite their numerical disadvantage elusive running by Gowerton wing Joe Legg put his side on the front foot and when the hosts were penalised for a ruck infringement, scrum half Jones added the 3 points.
Humphreys regained his side the lead, when Gowerton were penalised for not supporting their own body weight in the ruck and then the hosts crossed for their second try when some unusually weak defensive work allowed Neath’s Jamie East to score out wide.
Gowerton were back within a point when after a number of phases, scrum half Jones sniped from the base of a ruck to score Gowerton’s second try, he added the conversion and with 8 minutes left the game was back very much in the balance.
Neath though were able to retain possession, run the clock down and were very happy to hear the final whistle that confirmed their victory from a game that both sets of players could take much credit from.
Gowerton’s year 8 and 9 teams entertained Pontarddulais in the semi-finals of the Ospreys region plate competitions and both schools ended up with a victory apiece to progress to the respective finals. The two games were played at Gowerton RFC whose continued support for schools’ rugby is both laudable and much appreciated.
At kick off, conditions were ideal for open rugby and it was great to see that in both games all teams were committed to keeping the ball in hand at every opportunity.
Match report: Mr Lewis
Gowerton year 9: 48 Pontarddulais year 9: 7
In the year 9 game, both teams showed an attacking intent from the off, moving the ball wide at every opportunity with the inter passing between backs and forwards of the highest quality. Gowerton’s advantage came from the excellence of their back row with man of the match Kian Webb defending strongly and Ben Cort and Caradog Kaniewski outstanding at the breakdown where they made numerous crucial turnovers.
In the first quarter, the visitors gave as good as they received with centres Liam Thomas and Jester Domingo both running strongly, but with the hosts’ back row dominating the contact area Pontarddulais were unable to turn their territory into points.
At the other of the field, the slight of hand shown by Gowerton’s three quarters allowed them to turn their pressure into points and they crossed for 8 tries despite the tireless defensive work of visiting flanker Matthew Osborne. The highlight was a hat-trick by flanker Kaniewski, others to cross were co-flanker Cort, fly half Joe Hawkins-Cole, wing Raffy Richards, full back and captain Will Thomas and centre Taylor John who also added 4 conversions.
For the visitors, No.8 and captain Dylan Jones dotted down and scrum half Tom Lloyd added the extras.
At the final whistle it was the hosts who came out on top 48-7 and now await news of who they will play in the final.
Match report: Mr Cullen
Gowerton year 8: 14 Pontarddulais year 8: 33
The boot was well and truly on the other foot in the year 8 game with the powerful carrying of centre Kian Hier and fly half Iwan Evans constantly allowing the visitors to get onto the front foot. Gowerton defended stoically with man of the match prop Charlie Owen, hooker Marley Bushell flanker Joe Richards, locks Ben Williams and Max Evans centre Joe Brito and fly half and captain Jake Riordan, all playing with great commitment.
For the visitors, counter attacking full back Sam Smith was a constant threat and lock Evan Rundle worked tirelessly and carried strongly. They crossed for five tries with powerful centre Kian Hier scoring a hat-trick and half backs Iwan Evans and Finley Edwards both scoring one each. Fly half Evans converted 4.
For Gowerton prop Charlie Owen and centre Joe Brito scored tries and fly half and captain Jake Riordan kicked two excellent conversions.
Bishop Vaughan year 7: 0 Gowerton year 7: 5
Gowerton’s year 7 team travelled to Bishop Vaughan, and in a really competitive and physical game in which defences were on top throughout and the game was only decided by an excellent score by Gowerton’s centre Harvey Thomas.
For the visitors, their standout performers in attack were Cobi Thomas Calder who ran elusively whilst both Harvey Thomas and Oscar Harvard carried strongly. The defensive work of Sam John and Charlie Steadman was tireless.
Match report: Mr Watts
