Wednesday 3rd February 2016.
Year 10 ‘grab victory from the jaws of defeat.’
Pontarddulais year 10: 19 Gowerton year 10: 27.
Hat-trick from captain Jones inspires a great Gowerton fight back.
Gowerton attack the Pontarddulais line.
Gowerton’s year 10 rugby team travelled to Pontarddulais in the last 16 of the Swansea schools’ cup. Having been beaten before Christmas, 52-0 in a friendly against the same opponents, they knew they faced a massive challenge. But it was a challenge the team rose to admirably, and inspired by an outstanding individual performance from scrum half and captain Iwan Jones they fought back from a 19-10 deficit with ten minutes remaining to come out on top 27-19.
The hosts kicked off playing into the breeze and their powerful forwards dominated the early stages scoring two tries within the first eight minutes. In the second minute, No.8 Morgan Warburton picked up from the base of a 5 metre scrum and powered over beneath the posts for a try that fly half Lewis Gibbs converted.
Their second try followed more strong work from the pack that resulted in flanker Louie Walters crossing.
Gowerton eventually managed to gain a foothold in the game with the excellent lineout understanding between hooker Gareth Aylott and flanker Leon Bevan winning a supply of possession that allowed fly half James Northey and centres Alex Crawford and Danny Thomas to threaten the hosts with their accurate distribution and good footwork. Gowerton registered their first score when incisive running from Northey and Crawford took the team deep into the hosts’ 22. The ball was won quickly and moved swiftly to the wing where full back Tom Barrington crossed.
Pontarddulais continued to have the better of the game and Gowerton’s defence was severely tested. The fact that the hosts were unable to extend their lead was down to the impressive tackling of lock Will Griffiths, flanker Garin Thomas, No.8 Lewis Grove and captain Jones.
Buoyed by the confidence of their strong defensive effort in the second quarter, Gowerton started the second half on the front foot. Half backs Jones and Northey controlled territory intelligently with their kicking game, and they reduced the deficit when the hosts failed to deal effectively with a clever kick ahead by scrum half Jones who followed up to claim the score.
The hosts extended their lead as the game entered the final quarter. No.8 Warburton was halted just short of the try line but his offload was well gathered by fly half Gibbs who crossed beneath the posts for a try to which he added the extras.
With ten minutes remaining, the hosts appeared in control, but Gowerton inspired by man of the match Jones weren’t prepared to go down without a fight. As the hosts’ forwards tired, lock Ben Grunhut came to the fore carrying strongly for the visitors. Following one strong run he was tackled just short, but flanker Bevan picked up and burrowed over for a score that scrum half Jones converted.
Gowerton now scented victory and with three minutes left, a break by full back Barrington took him to half way, centre Crawford carried on and only a knock on denied them a score. However, hooker Aylott took the scrum against the head and that allowed scrum half Jones to nip down the blind side to cross for the try that gave his side the lead for the first time.
From the kick off, Gowerton gathered and kicked long their chase was excellent and wing Ellis Searle forced the hosts to concede a penalty for not releasing. The quick thinking Jones spotted the space behind the hosts, kicked ahead and won the chase to complete his hat-trick and guarantee his side a place in the next round where they will host Bryntawe.
Gowerton’s year 11 side hosted Bryntawe in a friendly and in a very competitive game it was the visitors who came out on top by virtue of a brace of tries from strong running wing Jack Hughes. Others to impress for the visitors were half backs Liam Seward and Callum Hanney who distributed skilfully and lock Leon Wheatley and No.8 Jack Rogers who carried powerfully.
The hosts were well served by wing Sam Jones, centre Rhys Edwards and fly half Dexter Ryde who all ran elusively. At forward, flanker Jack Soproniuk dominated the line outs, prop Nathan Davies and lock Ryan Jones worked hard. Hooker Aled Simons won the man of the match award for his tireless ball carrying.
Bishopston’s year 8 entertained Gowerton in the first round of the Swansea schools’ cup and the power of their forwards saw them through to the next round 12-7.
Gowerton had the advantage of the slope in the first half and led 7-0 at the break by virtue of a try by wing Ethan Lee that fly half Alex Hughes converted. Scrum half Matthew Davies possessed an excellent service and centres Gavin Williams and Teigue Williams both threatened with ball in hand.
In the second half, Bishopston took advantage of the slope and it took some excellent defensive work from Sam Terry, Adam Williams, Jay Jones and Ryan Stagg to initially keep the hosts at bay. However, the game’s dominant forward Laurence Hyde crossed twice and Tom Payne added a conversion. Lewis Price was man of the match and Joe Richards was also outstanding. As a result Bishopston travel to play Cefn Hengoed or Pentrehafod in the next round.
