Last gasp try earns year 11 a win.
Cais munud ola yn sicrhau buddugoliaeth i Flwyddyn 11
Scott Smith shows great technique with the ball in two hands.
Gowerton yr 11:26 Cwmtawe yr 11:20
Bl.11 Tregwyr:26 Bl.11 Cwmtawe:20
Protheroe’s personal haul of 26 points gives Gowerton victory.
Casgliad personol 26 pwynt Protheroe yn rhou buddugoliaeth i Dregwyr.
Gowerton year 11 got their season underway when they entertained Cwmtawe. The game was played at Gowerton RFC and refereed by WRU academy referee Ben Whitehouse.
Gowerton were the first to attack with fly half Mathew Protheroe and centre Leighton Lamb both creating opportunities with the width of their passing. In the 7thminute, it was the hosts who were first on the score board when Protheroe’s excellent angled run 40 metres out saw him slice through the defence, he sidestepped the full back and touched down beneath the posts for a try he converted himself.
Wing Jack Porter tackles a Cwmtawe attacker.
However, Gowerton lacked discipline along the offside line and were penalised regularly. This gave the visitors the opportunity to set up a number of attacks and they crossed for tries in the 15thand 20th minute, one of which was converted. Gowerton’s front row of Dylan Treharne, Marcus Besley and Richard Keefe were gaining the upper hand in the scrums and in the 23rd minute when they drove a scrum up on the loose head they created the opportunity for scrum half Jonny Lloyd to free Protheroe 30 metres out and he outpaced the defence to score a try he once again converted and at the break the hosts held a narrow 14-12 advantage.
Kieryn Lewis leaps high to secure a vital lineout.
In the second half, Cwmtawe’s forwards were stronger in the contact area, and with Gowerton continuing to infringe at the breakdown the visitors began to control field position and they took the lead in the 42nd minute when they broke down the blindside of a maul 40 metres out and scored in the corner. Cwmtawe were now very much in control and extended their lead in the 52nd minute when they converted a penalty when the hosts again infringed at the breakdown.
The home forwards now had to step up and with the back row of Jack Petherbridge, Kieryn Lewis and Joel Young to the fore they began to produce some possession for the backs to use and with scrum half Lloyd’s excellent service again freeing Protheroe he outstripped the cover to score in the corner with 3 minutes left on the clock.
Rhodri Tyrrell takes on an opponent.
Richard Keefe and Jack Porter tackle.
With time almost up on the clock and Gowerton deep in their ‘22’, full back Rhodri Tyrrell kicked long. The chase was effective and they regained possession on half way, No.8 Young drove forward strongly and released possession, a short pass from lock Kieron Fisher to the arriving Protheroe again gave him the space to beat the cover and score his fourth try. He added the conversion which was followed by the full time whistle.
Joel Young supported by Ryan John powers forward to set up the ruck that led to the winning try.
Photographs: James Tanner year 11.
