It promised to be a close, tough encounter and we weren't disappointed. Pontarddulais came to play, a straightforward gameplan but simple and effective.
The early stages saw both teams struggling for superiority as some tough tackling kept the breaks and open play to a minimum. Rhys D and Jack G were prominent with their tackling early on and Ieuan E made one surging run into the Bont half before being brought down. Against the run of play Bont were able to kick on and as Gowerton struggled to gather they touched down. Bont were focussing their attack through their large forward but Kobe B did very well to hold up one early run and Jack G continued to be a nuisance. Gowerton began to exert some territorial pressure with Rhys D running a good line and Jac S making one spectacular break. Following a good line out from Zac J close to the line, Ethan H, close to his rampaging best, nearly made it over. Jake T was also forced in to making a good tackle as Bont came back. But it was an incisive break from Rhys D that led to Gowerton bringing the scores level. Josh B was becoming increasingly influential as the half wore on, but space was tight and it was Bont who scored next, going over from a penalty close to the line. Jac S was doing good work at the scrum as the pack with a front row of Ethan H, Owen H and Zac J worked hard to gain parityand Josh P and Joe D looked to take the game to Bont. Kobe B again made a magnificant tackle out wide to stop a Bont run out wide just before half time.
Rhys D started the second half with another good break, offloading to Josh B who put Alex J away before he was brought down. Good work by Josh B and Jake T at the breakdown led to Rhys D going over again in the corner with Jac S unable to make a difficult conversion.
James R added freshness to the front row before replacing Joe D at lock.
Luc J and Alex J combined to make a great covering tackle as Bont came back before the pressure told and Bont went over to make it 12-21.
Elliot H was dominating the lineout but Gowerton couldn't capitalise, and despite a superb team effort - Rhys J, Josh P and Jack G all working hard to create opportunities up front - they couldn't get over the line until close to the end of the game when Jac S squirmed his way over in the corner. Again it was a difficult conversion and the game ended 17-21 with 3 tries apiece.
It was a fine team effort. Some committed tackling, which has not always been the case, and some enterprising running from the likes of Alex J, Rhys D and Josh B. A tough game like this will do the boys no harm at all as next week brings us up against Waunarlwydd.
Coaches were Lynn Simons and Andrew Daniel with First Aid provided by Ceri Daniel.
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