Year 10 are Swansea champions again.
Gowerton year 10 squad:
Back row (left to right): Mrs Davies (First Aid), Rhys Evans, Steffan Tyrrell, Olly Smith, Brandon Gordon, Ethan Harris, Jordon Liney, Steffan Gibbon, Morgan Morris, Rhys Evans, Jack Cambriani, Luke Snell, Tom Howell, Sam Clark and Mr Lewis (coach).
Front row (left to right): Josh Neill, Jesse Howes, Owen Rieley, Callum Lewis, Philip Jones, Will Jones (capt), Tom Northey, Milo Fleming, Keelan Giles, Max Harris and Connor Brain.
Gowertonyear10: 50 Olchfa year 10: 0.
Giles’ hat-trick the jewel in eight star Gowerton performance.
The year 10 game produced the best team performance of the finals with Gowerton, last year’s Welsh cup winners, producing a clinical and skilful display that saw them defeat the team who had been convincing winners of last year’s Swansea schools’ cup.
The game started with Gowerton receiving the kick off from Olchfa. No-one really claimed it and a scrappy maul ensued, but Gowerton emerged with the ball and spread it wide to winger Keelan Giles who received it just outside his own 22. With superb pace and evasive running he beat a number of defenders to score in the corner. Tom Howell kicked the conversion from out wide.
Hat-trick hero Keelan Giles shows great technique with the ball in two hands.
Gowerton kept up the pressure and Olchfa were tackling well, but a number of phases in the Olchfa 22 resulted in Gowerton being awarded a penalty 5 metres from the try line. Milo Fleming took a quick tap penalty and the ball went through a number of pairs of hands before lock Steffan Gibbon scored in the corner. Tom Howell failed with the conversion attempt.
Olchfa weren’t doing much wrong and a nice angle from centre Ewan Gulley led to them getting into the Gowerton 22, but they lost the ball in contact. Gowerton’s forwards were dominant and were keeping the ball well and going through a number of phases in midfield before the ball came out to Keelan Giles who broke through several defenders and passed to Tom Howell who scored in the corner. Howell failed with the conversion attempt.
Phil Jones shows great technique carrying the ball in two hands.
Gowerton’s fourth try came from a lineout which was caught and driven up to the Olchfa 5m line, Keelan Giles tried to snipe over from close range but was denied by the Olchfa defence, from the ensuing ruck the ball got passed through the hands for Jack Cambriani to score an unconverted try in the corner.
Olchfa once again kicked off, Gowerton caught the ball and set up a ruck. Jesse Howes put a neat little kick over the oncoming Olchfa defence, centre Phil Jones caught the bouncing ball before passing to Steffan Tyrrell to score under the posts. Tom Howell kicked the conversion. The last try of the half came from good quick ball from the Gowerton lineout. The ball was passed out through the backs to Keelan Giles who beat a number of defenders before passing to Tom Howell who scored once again in the corner. The try was unconverted.
Half-time:Gowerton36 Olchfa0.
Olchfa had not done much wrong in the first half, but couldn’t live with the pace and power with which Gowerton were playing. The second half started with Olchfa on the attack, but Gowerton No.8 Morgan Morris ripped the ball from the Olchfa attacker and passed it to centre Phil Jones who kicked up to the halfway line. Olchfa looked to have the danger covered with two players chasing the ball, but winger Keelan Giles’ pace was blistering and he beat the defenders to the ball, collected it and scored under the posts. Tom Howell converted.
Fly half Jesse Howes looks to release his outside backs.
A number of substitutions were made and the continuity of the game was affected slightly. Good work by hooker Jordon Liney set up the final try for Keelan Giles and he converted himself. The game ended 10 minutes early due to the 50 point score line.
At the final whistle it was Gowerton’s captain Will Jones who proudly went forward to collect the Mike Ruddock cup.
Match report: Mr. M. Lewis.
