Year 7 and 8 enjoy mixed fortunes in Swansea Cup.
Year 8 fight back stuns Gwyr.
Gowerton yr 8: 17Gwyr yr 8: 10.
The year 8 Swanseaschools’ cup saw last year’s finalists drawn to play each other in the first round of this year’s competition. Gwyr started as strong favourites having won last year’s final 33-5 and also having triumped 22-10 in a friendly between the two sides earlier in the season and it was Gwyr who started the quickest and they were first onto the scoreboard when pacey wing Callum Davies crossed for an unconverted try to open the scoring. Gowerton pressed for an equalising score but Gwyr’s defence was uncompromising, wing Said Mohamed came close to scoring only to be denied by a knock on and at the break Gwyr led 5-0.
Gwyr doubled their lead straight from the kick off when wing Davies crossed for his second try to put his team firmly in control.
Gowerton needed inspiration and it came from lock Callum Batcup who tapped a penalty quickly on the Gwyr 22 and powered through the Gwyr defenders to get his team on the board. Gowerton were now on the front foot and good link up play between fly half Kieran Charles and centre Sam Knight allowed Knight to score and Charles’ conversion gave his side the lead for the first time. Gowerton stretched their lead with a length of the field try by flanker Ewan Brown after some good carries from wing Mohammed and flanker Corry Jenkins. Gwyr were now stirred into action and Gowerton were only able to retain their lead thanks to excellent defensive work from wing Lewis Hyatt, prop Will Griffiths, fly half Charles, lock Batcup, centre Knight and No.8 Lloyd Dudley-Jones.
At the final whistle, it was Gowerton’s game and they now travel to take on Penyrheol in the quarter final.
Wednesday 29th February 2012.
Year 7 fall to Bishopston.
Bishopstonyear 7:39 Gowertonyear7: 15.
Elliot Ryde tries to avoid a Bishopston tackler.
Gowerton travelled to play Bishopston in the first round of the year 7 cup and in an excellent and very competitive game in which ten tries were scored it was the hosts who eventually came through to progress to the quarter final.
The hosts kicked off with the advantage of the slope in their favour and they took the lead in the 10th minute when wing Tom Westerhome outstripped the defence to score a converted try. Six minutes later, good work by Gowerton’s captain and scrum half Sam Cambriani secured a turnover from which prop Oliver Clark was able to drive over for an unconverted try.
Rhys Baker looks to find space out wide.
By half time however, the hosts stretched their lead with tries from No.8 Ryan Drewson and full back Max Jones and early in the second half, the game looked safe for the hosts when the games most influential player, home fly half Zac Williams crossed for a try he converted himself.
Gowerton hadn’t read that script though and replied with tries from centre Shaun Collins and prop Jack Harper which meant that with 7 minutes left Gowerton were back in the match. The hosts weren’t going to release their grip though, and they scored three tries in the last five minutes with wing Westerhome crossing for two more to complete his hat trick and centre Ben Cambriani completing the scoring to see them confidently through to the next round.
Jack Harper powers towards the Bishopston line to score the third try.
Elliot Rees attacks the Bishopston defensive line.
Photographs: Marcus Besley yr 10.
