Thursday 24th January 2019.

Gowerton build on success at Pontarddulais.
Penyrheol year 7: 10 Gowerton year 7: 43
Dodd hat-trick puts year 7 in charge.
Gowerton year 7 squad.

Back from left: Aled Jefferies, Evan Williams, Reuben de Val, Josh Anderson, Ethan Davies, Tyler Davies, Drew Dodd, Jac Lewis-Colwill, Iwan Pearce-Morgan, Morgan Bradley, James Godbeer, Caerwyn Richards, Ben Hughes, Cameron Bevan.

Front from left: Harvey Marshall, Alfie Catto, Jac Hawkins, Richard Davies, Finn Lewis, James Wells, Ethan Wood, Nathan Gardiner, Tyler-Jay Penhorwood, Isobel Baldwin-Pritchard.

Gowerton’s year 7 team travelled to Penyrheol hoping to build on their victory at Pontarddulais the week previously. The hosts were playing their second game of the week having travelled to Bishopston two days earlier where they’d produced an encouraging performance before going down 27-22.
The hosts started strongly and impressive fly half George Davies sliced through on halfway but a fine tackle by full back Reuben de Val halted his progress in the visitors’ 22 and the threat was nullified. However, having established the attacking platform, Penyrheol continued to apply the pressure with the work at the breakdown of flanker Reuben Hall and hooker Levi Knight impressive and allowing their side a steady flow of possession. In the 6th minute, they were rewarded with the opening score when lock Layla Kerr took the ball to the line and fly half Davies was on hand to cross.
The visitors needed to tighten their defence and with props Tyler Penhorwood and Harvey Marshall, lock Isobel Baldwin-Pritchard, flanker James Godbeer and hooker and player of the match Nathan Gardiner all tackling strongly, they did so.
In the 12th minute, Gowerton were in front when good work by centre Ethan Davies created space on halfway for fly half Cameron Bevan. He still had a lot of work to do but his pace allowed him to get around the cover to dot down beneath the posts for a try that full back de Val converted.
Two minutes later, a shuddering tackle on half way by flanker Godbeer dislodged the ball, full back de Val claimed the loose ball and cleverly offloaded to wing Drew Dodd whose pace took him clear for a try that fly half Bevan converted.
The hosts continued to make things difficult at the breakdown and with fly half Davies always a threat and wing Josh Pennino lively in space, Gowerton’s defence continued to be tested. However, with hooker Gardiner to the fore, they refused to buckle and increased their lead when good work by centre Tyler Davies gave wing Dodd possession on half way, he burst through two defenders and again had the pace to outstrip the cover and score his second try. Centre Ethan Davies added the extras and at the break Gowerton led 21-5.
In the second period Penyrheol played with more width but Gowerton’s midfield defence of replacement fly half Jac Lewis-Colwill and centres Ethan and Tyler Davies denied them space forcing mistakes and Tyler Davies crossed for his sides fourth try after his centre partner Ethan caused a dropped ball in midfield which was seized upon by Tyler and his strength allowed him to hold off three would be tacklers before crossing in the corner.
Penyrheol’s exertions of earlier in the week began to take their toll and the visitors dominated the next quarter. First prop Harvey Marshall powered over after good work from replacement scrum half Iwan Pearce-Morgan gave him room in the hosts’ 22. Then excellent passing in midfield allowed fly half Lewis-Colwill to loop around and centre Ethan Davies’s pass put him clear to cross in the corner.
The visitors final score was the best of the match and with scrum half Pearce-Morgan’s crisp service giving his outside space a little more time on the ball they worked the ball to wing Dodd and he outpaced the defence from halfway to complete his hat trick. Scrum half Pearce-Morgan converted.
Penyrheol continued to fight hard with lock Layla Kerr carrying strongly and wing Pennino having the pace to threaten when in possession and they deservedly had the final say when good handling by their midfield backs allowed them to cross for a second time.
The final whistle followed shortly after and Gowerton returned home victors 43-10. Next week they travel to play Ystalyfera.

The two teams after the match.