Six try Gowerton march on.
Pontarddulais: 0 Bl9 Tregwyr: 36.
Pontarddulais: 0 Gowerton yr 9: 36.
Captain Will Jones takes on the Pontarddulais defence with Jordan Richards in support.
Rhediad buddugol Blwyddyn naw yn cyrraedd 10 gem.
Year 9 take winning streak to 10 games.
Gowerton year 9 travelled to take on local rivals Pontarddulais in a friendly. Having received the draw for the knock out stage of the Welsh Cup, where they have been drawn at home to Treorchy Comprehensive, all members of the squad realised that the game would be an opportunity to push for selection in that team.
Weather conditions weren’t ideal for running rugby with a strong wind blowing and the heavy overnight rain meaning that the ground was wet underfoot. Gowerton kicked off into the wind and were the first to threaten when a clever kick from fly half Philip Jones landed in space deep in the home ‘22’. The Pontarddulais defenders were first to the ball, but speedy full back Keelan Giles was on hand to force them to ‘minor’ the ball.
The hosts defended the initial threat from the scrum well, but only at the expense of a lineout from which prop Jordon Liney, who was making his debut, powered over to score in the corner. Centre Tom Howell added the conversion with an excellent kick from the touchline.
Centre Tom Howell who scored a try and kicked three conversions
Pontarddulais were the next to threaten and it took excellent defensive work from hooker Dafydd Williams and prop Steffan Gibbon to deny them the opportunity to score. As a result, the ball was turned over, Gowerton counter attacked and forwards Liney, No.8 Jack Cambriani and captain Will Jones were all involved before quick ball on half way put fullback Giles in space. He sprinted clear beating the last defender to touch down beneath the posts for a try that Howell converted to double the lead.
Fullback Keelan Giles kicks clear from just inside his ‘22’.
There were no further scores before the break and with the wind at their backs in the second half the visitors were confident of extending their lead. However, the hosts were determined opponents and it wasn’t until the 39th minute that they crossed for their third try when No.8 Cambriani picked up and drove over after his pack took a scrum against the head.
Gowerton’s forwards drive the home forwards back in a scrum.
In the final 10 minutes, Gowerton added three further tries as the hosts tired. In the 43rd minute an excellent catch and drive from a lineout, with man of the match flanker Steffan Tyrrell to the fore, allowed fly half Jones to chip over the advancing defence and full back Howell won the chase to touch down.
From the kick off, Prop Liney broke forward powerfully and fed lock Morgan Morris who showed great pace to outstrip the defence for the fifth try. Then in the final minute, good work by Cambriani, scrum half Milo Fleming, Jones and Howell gave Liney the opportunity to show he possessed pace as well as power and he sprinted to score a try that Howell added the conversion to.
Centre Rhys Evans places the ball after securing possession.
The victory leaves Gowerton in good heart as they prepare for the visit of Treorci.
Photographs: Connor Brannan year 9.
