Gowerton double up over Dyffryn.
Gowerton’s year 9 and 10 rugby teams warmed up for their Easter tour to Hilversumin The Netherlands when they entertained Dyffryn school at Gowerton RFC and achieved a notable double.
Gowerton year 10: 34 Dyffryn year 10: 31.
The year 10 game was an entertaining game containing 11 tries and was only settled when scrum half Tom Ham crossed for his side’s sixth try with the final play of the game.
Gowerton started quickly and raced into a 24 point lead after only 13 minutes with the abrasive running of centre Lloyd Dudley-Jones and hooker Daniel Rogers putting their team on the front foot. With ample possession scrum half Tom Ham’s swift service allowed fly half Jordan Penhalagan to release his backs and wing Nicholas Williams and full back Brandon Job both looked dangerous.
The hosts were in front in the 2nd minute, when centre Dudley-Jones powered through from 10 metres. Three minutes later good work by wing Williams and full back Job allowed man of the match Penhalagan to evade three defenders and cross for a try that scrum half Ham converted. In the 10th minute, Ham kicked ahead and centre Dudley-Jones arrived at the breakdown to win possession, he fed mobile prop David Carpanini who crashed over and scrum half Ham added the extras. Gowerton then completed an impressive start when another attack sparked by fly half Penhalagan allowed centre Dudley-Jones to make ground and his offload put wing Williams over.
The hosts’ remarkable start seemed to have sealed the game within the first quarter, but nothing could have been further from the truth and the visitors responded with both character and resilience to dominate the next quarter and score three unanswered tries of their own. The turnaround was based upon the power of their pack with hooker Rhys Henry, prop Jordan Walters and flanker Tom Hopkins all impressing with their powerful running. In the 15thminute hooker Henry took a short ball and was unstoppable from 5 yards out. Fly half Tyler Alyward converted. Then in the 22nd minute more good work from the forwards allowed prop Walters to drive over from short range. Then on the stroke of half time, centre Owen Morris set off a 60 metre run that saw him evade several would be tacklers to score an excellent individual score and at the break Gowerton’s lead was 24-17.
Buoyed by their resurgence of the second quarter, the visitors started the second half on the front foot and tied the scores in the 33rd minute when more good driving play by their pack allowed flanker Hopkins to dot down and fly half Aylward added the extras.
Gowerton’s forwards needed to raise their game and with props Ryan Hughes and Lewis Cooke working hard and locks Jamie Jones and Joe Morris both competing well at the lineout, they duly did so and retook the lead when flanker Ewan Brown scored.
Back came the visitors and with full back Aaron Clement safe in defence and elusive in attack they took the lead for the first time with four minutes left when scrum half Cee-Jay Sharpe nipped over in the corner. Alyward’s excellent touchline conversion meant the hosts now had to show character themselves. They duly did so and after a surging run from centre Dudley-Jones saw him held up over the line, scrum half Ham showed his quick thinking to spot a gap down the blindside for the match winning try and Gowerton had completed an exciting win.
Gowerton year 9: 48 Dyffryn year 9: 10
Gowerton’s year 9 team showed that they have made good progress as the season has developed and achieved a convincing win over a very spirited Dyffryn team.
The hosts’ forwards provided an excellent platform with lock Rhys Penry dominating the line outs thanks to the accurate throwing of hooker Aled Simons. Flanker Daniel Sherman was prominent at the breakdown. As a result Gowerton’s free running backs were given plenty of opportunities with wings Max Treharne and Rhys Baker and centre Cameron Hogan all looking lively.
In the first half, the hosts crossed for five unanswered tries with wing Elliot Rees (2), scrum half Sam Cambriani, centre Adam Fielding and flanker Joe Bright-key all crossing. Wing Rees added three conversions and Gowerton led 31-0 at the break.
The visitors responded positively in the second half with hooker Jake Woodward, flanker Daniel Armstrong and lock Alex Burgess all working hard to secure possession. Centre Kyle Mason was a threat with his strong running and they crossed twice with hooker Woodward powering over from ten metres and shortly afterwards a fine run out of defence by centre Mason allowed fly half Cameron Jones to gather a loose ball and cross for a score he converted himself.
The hosts added three further tries of their own with centres Sean Collins and Cameron Hogan and flanker Jack Soproniuk all crossing. Scrum half Cambriani converted one and Gowerton can travel in confident mood to the Hilversumtournament on Easter Sunday.
