Tuesday 30th January 2018.
Year 8 off to a flier in the Swansea schools’ cup.
Cefn Hengoed year 8: 15 Gowerton year 8: 38
The two squads after the game.
Gowerton’s year 8 team travelled to play Cefn Hengoed in the first round of the Swansea schools cup. After the recent poor weather the game was moved to the nearby Bonymaen RFC ground where the underfoot conditions belied the heavy rain of the last week.
The two sides produced a competitive and entertaining game in which the hosts more than did themselves justice, before, at the final whistle, it was the visitors who advanced confidently to the next round by virtue of a 39-15 victory.
Gowerton’s win was founded on the pace and slick handling of their backs, well marshalled by captain and fly half Jake Riordan. In midfield, the intelligent running lines and accurate passing of centres Cai Rees and Cian Jenkins created regular opportunities for the back three of Luca Garner-Beynon, Nino Romanello and Lewis Roberts whose pace and elusive running meant they all carried a threat when in possession.
Jamie Terry secures a lineout
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The hosts were particularly competitive up front where the pace of twins Harvey and Ollie Griffiths and the strength of hooker Jack Rees and lock Jack Ace meant they won an equal share of possession.
Cefn Hengoed kicked off, but it was the visitors who threatened first and they took the lead in the 4th minute when excellent work on the floor by prop Owen Evans secured possession allowing scrum half Sol Richardson to put centre Cian Jenkins in space and he crossed for an unconverted score.
Gowerton doubled their lead 5 minutes later when locks Joe Richards and Jamie Terry combined well just inside their own half and released No.8 Andrew Clifford who brushed aside two would be tacklers before sprinting clear for another unconverted try.
Joe Richards secures the loose ball.
The hosts responded strongly and good work by No.8 Harvey Griffiths and lock Jack Ace was rewarded with their opening score.
On the stroke of half time, Gowerton re-established their two try advantage when prop Charlie Owen reacted first to a ball that ran loose in the hosts’ 22, gathered and crossed for a try that meant Gowerton led 15-5 at the break.
At the start of the second period, Gowerton’s forwards began to gain the upper hand as the hosts tired and with hooker Marley Bushell and prop Joel Dicks proving a powerful presence in the contact area, the visitors began to gain a greater share of possession. Back row forwards Jamie Terry and Jac Meredith revelled in the loose and first centre Jenkins and then wing Romanello crossed for tries, one of which Romanello converted.
Jamie Terry feeds Cian Jenkins.
In the final quarter, the sides swapped two tries apiece. Good work by flanker Ollie Griffiths and hooker Rees resulted in unconverted Cefn Hengoed tries while for the visitors strong runs from No.8 Clifford and centre Jenkins allowed flanker Terry and centre Rees to score a try each, one of which Romanello converted. The final whistle followed and it was the visitors who made their way home waiting for news of their second round opponents.
