Friday 9th October 2015.
Years 9 & 11 keep cup hopes alive.
Gowerton’s year 9 and 11 hosted Bryntawe in the third of their group games for qualification for the knock out stages of the Welsh Cup.
Gowerton year 9: 22 Bryntawe year 9: 14.
The year 9 squad:
Back from left: Charlie Smith, Daniel Warne, Rhys Jones, Alex Jones, Cameron Davies, John Edwards, Jack Rix, Mabon Kaniewski, Joseff Daniel, Rhys Flower, Luc Jones, Jack Griffiths, Mr Jon Walters (referee).
Front from left: Ben Petherbridge, Joel Matuschke, Jacob Rees, Jac Simons, Olly Bruce, Connor Williams (capt), Josh Thomas, Ethan Hall, Kori Barton, Jacob Turrato, Matthew Newcombe.
At year 9 level, Gowerton were undefeated in the group and knew that victory would guarantee their progress into the next stage. The early stages were end to end and both sides had opportunities to open the scoring but defences were on top. For the visitors powerful No.8 and captain Theo Morris was a constant threat and lock Towyn Bevan competed strongly at the breakdown. Fly half Aron Owen was an elusive runner and determined defender.
Gowerton’s back row of Jacob Rees, Alex Jones and man of the match Josh Thomas formed a well drilled unit in the contact area, behind the scrum full back Matthew Newcombe and wing Daniel Warne both looked dangerous with ball in hand.
Kobe Bowen takes the ball up-Carry the ball in two hands Kobe!
The hosts took the lead just before half time when they tapped a penalty quickly, centre Ben Petherbridge sprinted into space and then fed co-centre Jacob Turatto who crossed in the corner. Two minutes later Turatto replied the compliment to his centre partner, when he broke into the 22 and fed Petherbridge, who still had plenty to do, but excellent footwork took him clear of the final defender and he scored to double the lead. Gowerton led by 10 points at the break.
Jacob Rees took time out to get in a bit of disco dancing practice.
The hosts started the second period on the front foot and increased their lead after 5 minutes when a shuddering tackle by wing Kori Barton dislodged the ball beneath Bryntawe’s posts and captain Connor Williams was on hand to pick up and power over. Fly half Joel Matuschke converted. Bryntawe now enjoyed their best period of the game with the strong running of No.8 Morris increasingly influential and they reduced the deficit in the 43rd minute when Morris burst through several would be tacklers to score a try that scrum half Casey Williams converted. With two minutes left, the game was back in the balance when another powerful Morris run resulted in his second try. Williams’s second conversion reduced the deficit to three points.
However, Gowerton were not going to be denied and after good work from prop Mabon Kaniewski and scrum half Jac Simons, lock John Edwards burst clear for a try. The conversion faded across the posts, but the final whistle followed and Gowerton remained on target for the knockout stage of the competition.
Excellent footwork by Ben Petherbridge allowed him to score the second try.
Gowerton year 11: 50 Bryntawe year 11: 7.
In the year 11 game both teams harboured hopes of progressing to the knock out stages, but it was the hosts who emerged with a confident victory by 50-7. Despite the score line, the visitors competed strongly with back row forwards Rhys Morgan and Jack Rogers working tirelessly, whilst behind the scrum fly half Callum Hanney probed intelligently. Prop Gethin Griffith-Richards scored their try and fly half Hanney added the extras.
Gowerton replied with tries by centres Sean Collins (2), Iwan Jones and Dexter Ryde, fly half Cameron Clayfield, flanker Jack Soproniuk, scrum half Sam Cambriani and wings Elliott Rees and Joe Legg. Legg’s dynamic all round performance in both attack and defence earned him the man of the match award.
