Pack power clinches it for yr 9.
Blwyddyn 9 Afon Taf:12 Tregwyr: 22.
AfonTaf year 9: 12 Gowerton: 22.
Tom Howell kicks off into the stiff breeze and Milo Fleming, Tom Northey, Steffan Gibbon and Jacob Clark all give chase.
Gowerton got their post Christmas fixtures off to a flying start when they travelled to Merthyr to take on Afon Taf. Afon Taf were undefeated in games against local schools, so the vsitors realised that they faced a tough challenge if they were to return with a victory.
Heriwyd amddiffyniad, ond Tregwyr yn gorffen ar y brig.
Defence given a stiff test, but Gowerton still come out on top.
The visitors won the toss and elected to play into the stiff breeze and it was full back Tom Howell who kicked off for them. The first ten minutes saw the Gowerton pack in the ascendancy with the front row of Tom Northey, Dafydd Williams and Steffan Gibbon impressing with their technical excellence in both the tight and loose phases.
Gowerton’s pack had the better of the forward exchanges with Afon Taf.
It was clear that the hosts had a number of powerful ball carriers and whenever they had the ball, Gowerton’s defence had to be at its best to stop them making progress. To the fore in the early stages was captain and flanker Will Jones, who made several important tackles. However, in the 11th minute, a tackle was missed in midfield and this allowed Afon Taf to get behind the Gowerton defensive line. The visitors had opportunities to halt the move, but two more missed tackles allowed the hosts to cross for a try that was converted and gave them a 7-0 lead.
Despite playing into the breeze, Gowerton continued to enjoy the majority of territory and possession with No.8 Jack Cambriani and locks Morgan Morris and man of the match Jacob Clark all impressive ball carriers and regularly gaining their team valuable yards. Scrum half Callum Lewis was a constant threat to the hosts around the fringes and Gowerton were only denied a score on several occasions due to the excellence of the hosts’ defence. However, in the last minute of the half, excellent approach work by Cambriani and Clark, gave centre Steffan Tyrrell the opportunity to leave several defenders in his wake to cross for a score that went unconverted leaving Gowerton trailing 7-5 at the break.
Steffan Tyrrell left several defenders in his wake to score Gowerton’s first try.
Afon Taf continued to be dangerous and it took excellent tackles from flanker Rhys Evans, centre Tyrrell and wing Luke Snell to deny the hosts on a number of occasions.
The game turned in the 40thminute when Gowerton scored two tries in a minute. First a great tackle and turnover by flanker Evans won possession and when it was moved wide full back Howell crossed to give his team the lead. Then from the kick off, lock Morris won possession and showed both pace and power to beat several defenders and cross for a try that again went unconverted.
The hosts were not going down without a fight and they cut the deficit with a second try, but it was Gowerton who deservedly completed the scoring when strong ball carrying by hooker Williams set up a position in the hosts’ ‘22’. Fullback Howell broke through and fed prop Gibbon who crossed for a try that Howell converted.
Full back Tom Howell added the conversion to Gowerton’s final try.
Trechwyd Blwyddyn 8 ond ni siomwyd.
Year 8 beaten but not disgraced.
Blwyddyn 9 Afon Taf:22 Tregwyr: 10.
AfonTaf year 9: 22 Gowerton: 10.
Eisiau gwella’r presenoldeb yn y sesiynau hyfforddi er mwyn gweld cynnydd.
Training attendance needs to improve if Gowerton are to progress.
The two teams also played at year 8 level. Gowerton’s tries were scored by No.8 Will Griffiths and flanker Lloyd Dudley-Jones and early in the second half the teams were level 10-10 before the hosts stretched away with two more tries. The man of the match award went jointly to full back Jordan Penhalagon and lock Callum Batcup. However, if Gowerton are to progress in the Swansea schools’ cup, training attendances will need to show a considerable improvement.
