Mixed fortunes for Gowerton.

Bishopston yr 10: 31 Gowerton: 13

Gowerton travelled to Bishopston for their first round Swansea schools’ cup fixture and it was the hosts who progressed to the next round after a keenly contested game the result of which was still in the balance with 10 minutes to go before three late tries saw the hosts safely through.

The visitors pressed for the first 10 minutes and twice looked certain to score only to be denied by the hosts’ excellent defensive work. In the 11^th minute, Bishopston’s efforts were rewarded with an excellent counter attacking try. Possession was won in their own 22 and they went the length of the pitch for a try by wing Ben Westerholm. Full back Ethan Smith converted.

Gowerton’s pack continued to dominate the forward exchanges with prop Olly Quick, flanker Rhys Penry and hooker Aled Simons all working tirelessly and with man of the match Ethan Guy carrying strongly they equalised in the 13^th minute when lock Guy powered through several tacklers to score a try that full back Jacob Ireland converted.

The visitors were in front two minutes later when a strong run by centre Joe Bright-Key was halted on the hosts’ 22 and when they infringed at the breakdown, full back Ireland stepped up to land the penalty.

Bishopston were back in front in the 21^st minute when good work by wing Westerholm allowed fly half Max Jones to slice through the defence for a try again converted by Smith.

In the second half, Gowerton again pressed and reduced the deficit to a point when Ireland kicked his second penalty. The visitors continued to look for another score, but Bishopston’s defence was unyielding and they looked the more dangerous side with the pace of their outside backs a constant threat. Bishopston assured themselves of progress to the next round with three tries in the final 10 minutes from impressive No.8 Sam Hyde, full back Ethan Smith and centre Kieran Morgan. Full back Smith added a conversion.

Gowerton yr 9: 24 Llangynwyd: 32

Gowerton’s year 8 and 9 teams entertained Llangynwyd school from Maesteg at Gowerton RFC.

The year 9 game was very competitive with the lead changing hands several times before the pace of the visitors’ outside backs eventually tipped the result their way.

Llangynwyd were in front immediately when Gowerton failed to claim the kick off and powerful flanker Luke Thomas gathered and drove over. Gowerton were in front 5 minutes later when good handling behind released centre Danny Thomas, he was tackled just short but fly half Cameron Clayfield was on hand to snipe around the blindside and nimbly beat two defenders to score in the corner. Scrum half Iwan Jones converted from the touchline.

The hosts stretched their lead in the 10^th minute when centre James Northey took advantage of an awkward bounce to gather and score, but the visitors again scored from the kick off when Gowerton failed to claim the ball and this time fly half Joel Davies profited.

Llangynwyd were back in front in the 14^th minute with a great team try that saw the ball moved the length of the field before scrum half Iestyn Jenkins scored in the corner. However Gowerton responded with two excellent tries of there own. Centres Danny Thomas and James Northey and full back Garin Thomas were all incisive runners, with man of the match Thomas particularly looking dangerous. In the 16^th minute a good run from Thomas allowed scrum half Jones to squeeze over in the corner. He added another excellent touchline conversion. Three minutes later centre Northey released wing Tom Barrington 15 metres out. He still had plenty to do but he beat the final two defenders to stretch the lead to nine points.

The visitors reduced the lead on the stroke of half time when a well worked lineout move allowed hooker Owen Johns to score in the corner.

The second period started with the hosts pressing for another score, but Llangynwyd’s defence was unflinching and they regained the lead in the 37^th minute with a counter attacking try finished by centre Taylor Harvey. Full back Harrison Hobbs converted. Five minutes later the visitors clinched victory with another great length of the field effort that saw centre Aled Isaacs score in the corner.

Gowerton yr 8: 50 Llangynwyd: 0

In the year 8 game the hosts powered to victory with man of the match No.8 Tim Perkins outstanding and crossing for six of their tries.

Flanker Josh Thomas opened the scoring in the 2^nd minute. Thomas was involved in the second try when he took a pass from co-flanker Jacob Rees, he was tackled short of the line but wing John Edwards was on hand to pick up and score. No.8 Perkins scored his first try after a touchline hugging run. From the kick off good work by centre Ben Petherbridge took him up to the visitors’ line, he was tackled just short but offloaded for flanker Thomas to grab his second try.

Gowerton’s half backs Jac Simons and Joel Matuschke were orchestrating play intelligently and a kick to the corner led to a defensive lineout for the visitors, pressure from Gowerton’s pack allowed No.8 Perkins to score his second try. Perkins then completed his hat trick on the stroke of half time when he picked up from the base of a scrum on the 22 and powered over.

The second period saw the hosts who remaining in the ascendancy and prop Connor Williams was on hand to finish off after several phases of attacking play.  Perkins then grabbed his fourth and fifth tries following good work from scrum half Simons and centre Charlie Smith.

Wing Jacob Turatto scored after another period of sustained attacking before Perkins completed the scoring with his sixth try.

The year 7 squad.

Bryngwyn yr 7A: 26 Gowerton: 5

Gowerton’s year 7 team travelled to Bryngwyn for two fixtures and the two schools achieved a win apiece. Bryngwyn won the A team fixture and they were well served by centre Joe Nethell and there man of the match was No.8 Jay Guard. Tries were scored by wing Rhydian Jenkins, prop Brandon Laker, centre Morgan Rudland and Guard. Fly half Sam Wooller added three conversions.

The visitors’ try was scored by fly half Sam Cartwright and there were good performances from hooker Adam Williams, flanker Ryan Stagg and their man of the match was centre Alex Graham-Woollard who distributed intelligently.

Bryngwyn yr 7B: 12 Gowerton: 27

Gowerton came out on top in the B team game scoring 5 tries to the hosts’ two.

The teams were level 5-5 at the break. The hosts took the lead when No.8 Flynn Roberts Alatti burst clear, but Gowerton levelled when fly half and captain Alex Davies crossed.

The visitors forwards were on top in the second period with Prop Brad Evans and flankers Luke Penhalagan and man of the match Tom Kear working hard. They scored 4 further tries from prop Peter Legg-Davies (2), scrum half Tom Gwinnett and fly half Davies who grabbed his second. Full back Ross Buckley added a conversion.

In reply, Bryngwyn’s centre Darcy Etheridge crossed for a try he converted himself. For the hosts Morgan Meloni was a livewire at scrum half.