Wednesday 10th February 2016
Yr 9 power into the last 16 of the Welsh Cup.
Strade year 9: 5 Gowerton year 9: 7
Tim Perkins takes a tackle.
Gowerton year 9 travelled to Strade for their first game in the knockout stages of the Welsh cup and in a very hard fought contest it was the visitors who came out on top to progress to the last 16 of the competition.
Gowerton’s success was founded on the power of their pack with No.8 Tim Perkins, flanker Jacob Rees, lock Connor Williams and prop and man of the match Mabon Kaniewski all carrying strongly.
The early stages of the game were evenly contested with centre Tom Davies and lock Tom Westcott both defending strongly for Strade whilst for the visitors, centres Charlie Williams and Jacob Turatto formed an impenetrable midfield partnership.
Prop John Edwards sets off on the run that led to the winning try.
The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute when home wing Bradley Crossman intercepted a pass on halfway and sprinted clear to score in the corner. There were no further scores before half time and Strade led 5-0 at the break.
In the second period, Gowerton attacked with renewed energy and with prop Kaniewski, lock Williams and flanker Kai Pressdee all rucking strongly they began to threaten the hosts with increasing regularity. Gowerton took the lead in the 43rd minute when prop John Edwards showed both his power and pace to burst through several would be tacklers on halfway and sprint clear to score a try that fly half Joel Matuschke converted.
The visitors weren’t going to go out of the competition without a fight and they pressed for the score that would see them make progress. The fact that Gowerton’s line was not breached was down to their unyielding defensive work demonstrated by full back Ben Petherbridge and wing Matthew Newcombe who both pulled off try saving tackles that allowed their team to retain their lead at the final whistle and move into the next round.
Strade 1st XV: 29 Gowerton 1st XV: 12
The two schools were also involved in a senior friendly which was eventually won by the hosts by virtue of the fact that they scored five tries to the visitors’ two.
The two teams fight for possession.
The game was an excellent advert for schools’ rugby with both sides looking to move the ball at every opportunity and the fact that more tries were scored was down to the committed defensive work of both sides.
The hosts were well served by the ball carrying of prop Archie Davies and lock Ieuan Thomas whilst for Gowerton, prop Tom Northey, flanker Ben Brown and No.8 Ethan Harris all worked tirelessly. Hooker Aled Simons was awarded the man of the match award for his work at the breakdown coupled to his accurate lineout throwing that allowed No.8 Harris and lock Jason Stagg to dominate in that phase.
For the hosts, wings Oliver Davies (2) and Jacob Williams, lock Jordan Ball and full back Lewis Jones all crossed for tries. Fly half Ellis Richards added two conversions.
Gowerton’s tries were scored by scrum half Tom Ham and fly half Steffan Tyrrell. Full back Olly Smith kicked a conversion
Olchfa year 7: 29 Gowerton year 7: 5
Olchfa year 7 hosted Gowerton in the first round of the Swansea schools cup and moved confidently into the next round. For the hosts Rhys Blyth led the way up front with some excellent ball carries, both Adam Omar and Jamie Ace performed well tackling strongly and running well. Lewis Milloy also tackled strongly and assisted two of the tries with good offloads. Behind the scrum Harvey James and Sam
Petherbridge did well at scrum half and centre to release their outside backs where both full back Bryn Parker and wing Sam Humphries were a threat.
Gowerton and Olchfa year 7 battle it out.
For the hosts Sam Petherbridge, Mackenzie Locke, Oliver White, Rhys Blyth and Harvey James scored tries. James added two conversions.
Gowerton fought bravely against a physically stronger side and deserved more than their one try scored by No.8 Caradog Kaniewski. For the visitors, hooker Lewis Flower, lock Zac Cook, flanker Ben Cort, fly half Paul Packham and wing Tom Griffiths all competed strongly.
Photos: Owen Hodges year 9
