Gowerton march on in the Cup.
Gowerton year 8: 37 Gwyr year 8: 21
Gowerton’s year 8 rugby team eventually moved confidently into the semi-final of the Swanseaschools’ cup, but they only did so after receiving a massive fright from their next door neighbours Gwyr.
The game was played at Gowerton RFC and the visitors raced into a 21 point lead within the first 12 minutes. All three scores followed a similar pattern with the visitors moving the ball wide to their pacy outside backs with centre Shaun Murphy and full back Owain Jones distributing well and wings Rhys Wellington and Louis Rees (twice) outstripped the defence from within their own half. Fly half Iestyn Rees added all 3 conversions and the visitors held a comfortable advantage.
The hosts’ resilience was going to be severely tested and to their credit they managed to turn the game around by scoring seven unanswered tries of their own.
Scrum half Iwan Jones sparked the fight back in the 16thminute when he tapped a penalty quickly. The ball was moved swiftly to the opposite wing where full back James Williams showed an impressive sleight of hand to cross in the corner. Four minutes later, good work from Gowerton’s man of the match Will Griffiths took him close to Gwyr’s line and lock Ben Grunhut was in support to gather and score. Then on the stroke of half time impressive fly half Cameron Clayfield, who varied the play intelligently, weaved his way through the defence to score the hosts’ third try and Gowerton had cut the deficit to six points at the break.
Gowerton buoyed by their improved form, started the second half on the front foot and were in front within 5 minutes when first lock Grunhut powered over for his second try and then after good work by centre Jack Cosker, scrum half Jones scored.
Having taken the lead, Gowerton were now very much in the ascendancy with lock Garin Thomas, flanker Morgan Grey and prop Bradley Davies-Steele all prominent in the loose. Gwyr’s defence was unflinching with their best player prop Calder Devine, lock Llewellyn Davies and wing Wellington all prominent.
It seemed inevitable that Gowerton would add to their lead and in the 40th minute good interplay between No.8 Lewis Pennington and replacement scrum half Jacob Williams allowed the latter to score in the corner.
Then with the final move of the game, centre Tom Barrington ran an excellent angle and fed No.8 Pennington who touched down beneath the posts. Fly half Clayfield converted and at the final whistle it was the hosts who await the winners of Bishop Vaughan, Penyrheol and Bryntawe in the semi final.
