Gowerton double up at Pontarddulais.
Pontarddulais yr 11: 12 Gowerton yr 11: 17
Will Griffithson the charge with Steffan Tyrrell and Lloyd Dudley-Jones in support.
Tyrrell hat-trick gives year 11 the edge.
Gowerton’s year 11 team travelled to Pontarddulais for a friendly fixture and they served up an entertaining game that saw Gowerton score late on to gain victory.
Pontarddulais kicked off and Gowerton were quickly on to the front foot with flanker Lloyd Dudley-Jones and No.8 Will Griffiths controlling the breakdown and allowing them to dominate possession. Half backs Tom Ham and Milo Fleming probed intelligently for weaknesses in the defence, but Pontarddulais’s defence was uncompromising with centre Leon Johnson and No.8 Sion Johnson both to the fore.
Jamie Jones leaps high to claim a lineout.
The hosts took the lead in the 18th minute with a tremendous counter attack from their own line. Centre Johnson made the initial break and offloaded to wing Will Lewis on his 22 and he showed great pace to sprint 70 metres to score beneath the posts. Fly half Ben Bowen converted.
Gowerton responded immediately with centre Rhys Evans a powerful midfield presence and they equalised in the 21st minute when a fine run by centre Oliver Smith took him to within 10 metres of the hosts’ line, prop David Carpanini was on his shoulder and he fed flanker Steffan Tyrrell who crossed for a try that fly half Fleming converted. Gowerton were in front on the stroke of half time when lock Jamie Jones won a lineout 5 metres from the Pontarddulais line and the forwards drove over the line for Tyrrell to claim the score.
The hosts took control of the third quarter with No.8 Johnson and prop Chris Evans both powerful ball carriers and Gowerton’s defence was severely tested. Initially with wing Connery Maddick, full back Lewis Hyatt and man of the match Kalem Hedges all defending strongly Pontarddulais were unable to cross the line. It seemed inevitable that they’d score and with 10 minutes left they duly did so, when fly half Bowen glided around the blindside of a ruck to tie the scores.
That score stirred Gowerton into action and they pressed for a try that would regain them the lead and it came courtesy of a powerful run by centre Evans that took him deep into the hosts’ 22. The ball was moved wide and flanker Tyrrell was on hand to beat the cover and complete his hat trick.
Pontarddulais yr 8: 5 Gowerton yr 8: 14
Ben Grunhut powers forward.
Clayfield and Northey scores’ secure yr 8 win.
The two schools also played a year 8 game and it was just as keenly contested before Gowerton eventually emerged with the spoils. In the early stages Gowerton’s pack held the upper hand with props Bradley Lewis-Davies and Ben Grunhut and locks Garin Thomas and Johnnie Underhill all strong with ball in hand. However, the hosts’ defence was outstanding with debutant lock Stefan Wolf impressing and flankers Cain Collins and Jay Ashby both fearless defenders.
Gowerton eventually breached the hosts’ defence in the 18th minute when fly half Cameron Clayfield crossed for a try that scrum half Iwan Jones converted. They increased their lead in the 36th minute when good work by wing Tom Barrington created the space for centre James Northey to score their second try. Scrum half Jones added the extras.
Gowerton’s pack drives forward at a ruck.
Pontarddulais had the final word when strong running centre Lewis Gibbs ran well to allow fly half Jack Hurlow to cross for a try that went unconverted and it was Gowerton that returned home as victors.
