Thursday 17th September 2015.
Confident Gowerton year 9 defeat Bishopston.
Gowerton year 9: 14 Bishopston year 9: 10
Bishopston kicked off looking to avenge last season’s cup final defeat against the hosts. Gowerton applied a lot of pressure in the opening 15 mins but the Bishopston defence held out. Gowerton excelled in the line outs with hooker Rhys Flower’s accurate throwing to jumpers Alex Jones and Josh Thomas allowing them to catch and drive effectively. The scrum was also dominant with Mabon Kaniewski and Ethan Hall powerful in the front row. The opening score followed a strong scrum. Livewire scrum half Jac Simons fed half back partner Joel Matuschke who passed to centre Ben Petherbridge he stepped his marker to dash down the wing to score. Fly half Matuschke slotted a difficult conversion. Gowerton continued to apply pressure but with Bishopston defending strongly they were guilty of losing the ball in the tackle and contact area too often. The hosts continued to press with flankers Jacob Rees and Josh Thomas in the thick of the action, whilst full back Olly Bruce impressed in the wet conditions when Bishopston kicked the ball clear. At half time the sides were only separated by one score.
In the 2nd half, Bishopston came out on the attack, and cleverly countered the Gowerton lineout catch and drive and it was no surprise when they scored a try early in the half, when some weak defensive work led to them crossing for an unconverted team. Gowerton re-established a strong position, pressuring the visitors and denying them time on the ball, wing Dan Warne, centre Matthew Newcombe and man of the match Alex Jones were particularly effective at this, whilst flanker Jacob Rees continued to compete strongly at the breakdown and centre Jacob Turatto marshalled the defensive effort of the backs. The introduction of the fresh legs of Rhys Jones and John Edwards helped the pack with the strong running of Edwards spurring the forwards on, and particularly strong running lock Conor Williams who powered over for a try following a series of ‘pick and go’s’ by the forwards. Scrum half Simons this time slotted the difficult conversion.
Bishopston weren’t done though and after a lot of pressure by the hosts, the ball was spilled in contact in the Bishopston 22 and after a swift counter attack the visitors ran the length of the field to score in the corner.
Time was almost up and after a phase and a knock on the final whistle was blown with Gowerton the deserved winners.
Gowerton yr 11 stunned by late Bishopston surge.
Gowerton year 11: 15 Bishopston year 11: 28
Year 11 hosted Bishopston. Previous games between the two teams had always been competitive, but the visitors had always emerged on top.
Gowerton started in determined mood with the uncompromising defence of the back row of Joe Bright, Jacob Ireland and Jack Soproniuk halting Bishopston’s attacks at source. When the hosts were in possession man of the match, prop Ollie Quick and locks Declan Duckworth and Cameron Hogan all carried powerfully.
As the visitors became frustrated they tried to move the ball from deeper in their own territory and in the 18th minute a loose pass in their 22 was intercepted by wing Elliott Rees who crossed for the opening score which he converted himself.
With their confidence boosted, Gowerton attacked from the kick off, a break by wing Rees took them inside the visitors’ 22. From the ruck flanker Bright attacked the blind side and fed wing Adam Fielding who scored out wide.
Gowerton pressed for a third score and looked as if they would go into the break with a twelve point lead, but an attack broke down outside the visitors 22 and was hacked up field. No.8 Ireland won the chase to the ball, but his initial good work was nullified by a counter ruck that enabled the visitors to claim possession and cross for a converted try that meant that Gowerton’s half time lead was 12-7.
There were no scores in the third quarter and Gowerton retained their lead with just over 10 minutes left on the clock. Bishopston’s midfield then created an opportunity for centre Ben Cambriani who sprinted over the corner and the conversion gave his side the lead.
Gowerton pressed straight from the kick off and when the visitors were penalised for off side in their 22 wing Rees stepped up to kick the 3 points that regained his side the lead.
However, the visitors were not to be denied and with 7 minutes left, a clever kick over the defence on halfway was gathered by Cambriani and he brushed off a weak tackle to score a try that was again converted.
In the final minute, the visitors sealed the victory when Cambriani completed his hat-trick, the conversion was followed by the final whistle.
