Thursday 23^rd March 2017.

Year 8 advance to the semi-final.

Gowerton year 8: 36 Morriston year 8: 7.

After several cancellations due to the inclement weather Gowerton’s year 8 side got their season back underway when they entertained Morriston in the quarter final of the Swansea schools’ cup.

Mikey Black secures a lineout.

       The game, played at the Elba, kicked off in bright sunny conditions, although a stiff breeze meant handling was going to be difficult.

The home team were quickly into their stride with fly half Paul Packham prompting his side intelligently and they raced into an early lead crossing for three tries in the first 10 minutes.

The first score was a result of the combined work of back row forwards Caradog Kaniewski and Robyn Williams. Kaniewski burst through the visitors’ defence and powered into their 22 before offloading to Williams who drove over for a try that fly half Packham converted.

Good technique from Caradog-ball in outside arm to hand off with inside arm.

The second score was a result of the excellent running angle of full back Will Thomas who took a short pass from Packham on halfway and burst clear, as the cover closed in, he offloaded to centre Joe Hawkins-Cole who fed co-centre Tom Griffiths, and he crossed in the corner.

In the next attack, prop Lewis Flower drove powerfully towards the line only to be held up just short. The hosts’ excellent start was confirmed when full back Thomas latched onto a loose ball on halfway and showed an excellent turn of speed to sprint clear and dot down for his side’s third try.

The visitors’ had struggled to come to terms with the tricky wind in the first quarter, but with No.8 Kallum Doyle a strong presence in the contact area, they began to gain a foothold in the game and with both fly half Noah Osborne and full back Joe Anderson elusive with ball in hand and centre Ben Phillips carrying well, they began to exert pressure on the hosts. However, Gowerton’s defensive effort was resilient with lock Vikran Sanghera, hooker Billy Davies and flanker Kian Webb  all working tirelessly and they were able to keep their line intact.

Robyn Williams fights for possession.

       On the stroke of half time, an intelligent cross kick by scrum half Kieran Williams set up an attacking platform in the visitors’ half and flanker Kaniewski burst through several would be tacklers to cross for his side’s fourth try and Gowerton led 22-0 at the break.

With the advantage of the breeze in the second period, Morriston started purposefully and looked determined to set about reducing the deficit with No.8 Doyle carrying particularly strongly, however centre Joe Hawkins-Cole was first to react when a ball was dropped in midfield and he gathered and sprinted clear for a try that fly half Packham converted.

This set back didn’t dampen Morriston’s spirits, they continued to push forward and were justly rewarded when No.8 Doyle burst clear to score beneath the posts. Fly half Osborne converted.

The visitors now enjoyed their best spell of the game and pushed for another score. The only reason they were unable to achieve it was down to the efforts of the home defence with man of the match, full back Thomas, fly half Packham, hooker Billy Davies and flanker Ben Cort all making important interventions.

When you’ve got support run straight and carry the ball in two hands Caradog.

It was Gowerton who ended on the front foot and when full back Thomas hit another excellent angle of running he split the defence to burst clear. Flanker Kaniewski was on his shoulder and gathered to cross for his second try. Fly half Packham converted.

Lewis Flower shows how to do it-ball in two hands, run straight, commit the defender.

The final whistle followed shortly afterwards and Gowerton progressed to the semi-final where they will host Bishopston.