Gower College Swansea got back to their winning ways with a great performance against Coleg Gwent at Swansea Uplands RFC this afternoon.
- Gower College ran in eight tries in an impressive performance against Coleg Gwent
- The win was a welcome boost after seeing their winning run halted last week with a narrow 38-34 defeat at the hands of Coleg Y Cymoedd.
A great start from the Gower College side, good pressure and work through the phases led to a near first try. But a loose pass lost them the ball.
A break by the Coleg Gwent centres tested the Gower College side’s defence, but a beautiful tackle by centre Callum Carson on fly-half Matthew Lewis pushed them back in their own half. Working their way back upfield a chip chase went begging for the boys of Gwent but the referee called them back for an offside against Gower College.
Fullback Duane Thomas kicked the penalty, putting the visitors first on the scoreboard. 0-3.
The hosts looked quick in attack, spotting the gaps in the opposition’s defence only to be taken into touch. A lost lineout for Coleg Gwent put Gower College back in possession, with flanker Evan Budge making a break, offloading to Brandon Wood for the try. The conversion was missed but the home side were ahead.
And it wasn’t long before Gower College added to their score. Taking advantage of Gwent’s centre being off his feet, a quick tap and go by scrum-half Sam Cambriani earned the captain his side’s second try, which again went uncoverted.
A lost Gwent lineout offered Gower another chance to break, Budge offloading to his wing Jake Tucker who slid over for the third try. There was a change of kicker’s but the same outcome, a missed conversion.
Running from his own 10m line, Wood then raced over for his second try of the afternoon before kicking his own conversion, extending their lead 22-3.
A good counter drive on Coleg Gwent’s own scrum saw the ball claimed by Gower, before a break by centre Callum Mason, who shook off a tackle before gliding in straight under the posts. Wood added the extras, taking the points to 29-3.
Half Time Gower College Swansea 29 – 3 Coleg Gwent
The onslaught kept coming, Gower taking advantage of an offside, to go through the phases before Budge powered over the whitewash. Wood’s conversion extended the Swansea side’s lead 36-3.
Coleg Gwent answered back with a quick tap and go sending them over for their first try of the afternoon, the conversion good.
However, a penalty for holding on against the Gwent side, and some fancy footwork by Callum Carson, resulted in the centre going over the try line for his second of the game, the conversion keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Gower College pressure was forcing errors, denying Gwent any field position before a line out drive took the forwards powering over the line for their eighth of the afternoon.
A break by fly-half Matthew Lewis nearly saw the visitors score their second try but a knock on denied them the chance.
To their credit, Coleg Gwent refused to throw the towel in and a yellow card against Sam Hyde gave Coleg Gwent an extra man. Gwent kept pressing, going through the phases, the pressure resulting in a second yellow card for the hosts this time, replacement Rhys Thomas sent to the bin for taking a man without the ball.
With the hosts down to thirteen men, the gaps the visitors secured their second try of the afternoon, the conversion bringing the scores to 48-17.
It was Gower College who were awarded a penalty in the final seconds, and with time up there was only time to go for the posts. Taking the three points on offer, Wood kicked his side over the fifty point tally at the final whistle.
Full Time Gower College Swansea 51 – 17 Coleg Gwent
Gower College Swansea now travel to Llanelli to face Coleg Sir Gar next Wednesday 19th October 2:30pm. The last time these sides met was three weeks ago where the Gower College side won 15-5.
