Wednesday 29th November 2017.
Year 8 come out on top in try fest.
Ystalyfera year 8: 34 Gowerton year 8: 61.
The two teams prepare for a scrum.
After an enforced two week break as a result of the bad weather, Gowerton’s year 8 team travelled to Ystalyfera, and in an excellent game of end to end rugby came out on top scoring 9 tries to the hosts’ 6.
The hosts settled quickly and with captain and fly half Harri Lewis running powerfully, they applied the early pressure, but in the 5th minute a turnover by visiting prop Charlie Owen allowed fly half Jake Riordan to kick clear, centre Nino Romanello was first to the loose ball and carried to the hosts’ 22 before feeding co-centre Cian Jenkins who swerved outside the defence to score a try that captain Riordan converted.
Ystalyfera were back on the attack immediately, and although Gowerton’s initial defence was able to repulse their attacks, they scored a deserved try when No.8 Teilo Harris picked up from the base of a 5 metre scrum and powered over for the hosts’ first score.
Andrew Clifford powers forward-will he score?
Of course he will.
The visitors were starting to look more dangerous with ball in hand, prop Charlie Owen, hooker Marley Bushell, flanker Jac Meredith all carried strongly whilst the hosts found it increasingly difficult to handle the power and pace of No.8 Andrew Clifford, and the visitors stretched their lead in the 13th minute when Clifford replicated the hosts’ first try when he picked up from the base of a 5 metre scrum and powered over for a score that fly half Riordan converted.
Nino Romanello scores.
Buoyed by the confidence of this score, the visitors enjoyed a period of ascendancy in the next 5 minutes, crossing twice more. Firstly, great work deep in his 22 by flanker Jamie Terry allowed him to breach the defence, captain Riordan carried on the good work before transferring to centre Romanello on half way who had the pace to sprint clear to dot down beneath the posts for a try converted by captain Riordan. Minutes later, Gowerton scored their fourth try. Again it had its roots in their own 22, this time it was a powerful surge by hooker Bushell that put them on the front foot, full back Ceiran Gratrix maintained the momentum before feeding No.8 Clifford who sprinted clear. Fly half Riordan again added the extras.
The hosts continued to play with great spirit and were duly rewarded with a second score when No.8 Harris again proved unstoppable from a close range scrum. Fly half Lewis converted.
Gowerton had the final word of the half when impressive No.8 Clifford completed his hat-trick when he strode clear from half way. Riordan’s conversion was the final action of the half and at the break Gowerton led 35-12.
Gowerton started the second period on the front foot and scored twice inside the first 10 minutes with both tries inspired by man of the match Riordan. First, quick thinking saw him tap a penalty on half way and create space for prop Owen who showed an impressive turn of speed to sprint 40 metres to score. Then Riordan’s clever kick into space was gathered by scrum half Sol Richardson. No.8 Clifford was again on hand to benefit and cross for a fourth time. Riordan added both conversions to stretch the lead.
Ystalyfera weren’t going to subside meekly and they showed real character to score the next two tries. First, prop Callum O’Sullivan showed real strength to power over and then fly half Hari Lewis tapped a penalty quickly and powered over for a try he converted himself.
Momentum continued to ebb and flow and it was the visitors turn to grab a brace of tries of their own when a break by prop Owen allowed No.8 Clifford to cross for his fifth try, Riordan added his eighth conversion, before Clifford turned provider when his break and surge resulted in centre Jenkins crossing for a second time.
It was the hosts who had the final word with two tries of their own, No.8 Harris completed his hat-trick when he again powered over from the base of the scrum before captain Lewis completed the scoring when more quick thinking allowed him to score the game’s fifteenth and final try.
At the final whistle, it was the visitors who went away with the spoils in a game from which both teams emerged with great credit.
Photographs: Cai Rees year 8.
