Gower College Swansea beat Pembrokeshire College to progress to the next round
This season has seen a change in the WRU Wednesday Under 18 LeagueTrophy competition with all teams now competing in plays offs to decide the overall winner, giving Gower College Swansea who finished third this season and NPTC who lay at the bottom of the table another chance at the silverware.
Gower College Swansea took on sixth placed Pembrokeshire College at a wet and windy Swansea Uplands RFC this afternoon and started the game well. They attacked hard from the first whistle but their own mistakes and the wind meant they took time to get into a dangerous position. When they did eventually break into the 22 they were met by a solid line of defence from Pembrokeshire that they just couldn't penetrate.
It wasn't until with more than twenty minutes played that GCS finally found the gap they needed with a great break up the wing, Callum Carson carried on the attack and the team managed to push the ball over to score. George Mbofana, taking on kicking duties, sending the ball wide of the posts with his conversion attempt.
The try seemed to boost the home team as just minutes later number two came. Second row James Ratti started the attack as he raced down the wing before George Mbofana received the ball on the half way line and ran it the rest of the way. His kicking not matching his pace as he again sent the conversion attempt wide.
Gower College Swansea then lost captain Will Jones after a stamp to the face that went un-noticed and PSRA suddenly gained momentum. Within seconds they were over the try line and a successful conversion brought the scores to within just four points.
It looked like the visitors could steal the lead just a few minutes later when they powered from within their own half to the try line, GCS's tacklers just bouncing off them as they went. They battered the try line for several phases but Gower managed a huge defensive effort and turned them over just before half time.
HT: Gower College Swansea 12 - 8 PSRA
The tries came earlier in the second half, with just three minutes on the clock George Mbofana was over the try line for the second time in the game. His third attempt to convert going the same way as the others, wide of the posts.
With the visitors knocking on, and the home side sending a few passes wild it took a while for anyone to gain any momentum. Mbofana managed a good place kick on the 22 and when they couldn't progress forward they went wide. It worked well as Callum Carson managed a little dummy and slipped straight through to score. Tom Howells, taking over kicking duties, put the conversion straight between the posts to extend their lead.
Both teams then found themselves down to 14 men with a yellow card apiece following a fight but it didn't slow Gower College Swansea down. They turned over a PSRA attack and ran from within their own 22 to score, Tom Howells completing the efforts and touching the ball down before adding the extra points with a successful conversion.
There was no respite for the visitors with another try for Gower coming in quick succession. James Ratti again forgetting he is a forward and running a quarter of the field before prop George Jawad impressively ran the remaining quarter to score. Howells with a first miss of the game as his conversion attempt hit the posts.
The final five minutes was all PRSA as they consistently attempted to find the try line. Despite some good play they just couldn't break through the GCS defence and the game ended with no further score and Gower progressing to the semi final.
FT: Gower College Swansea 40 - 8 PSRA
Neath Port Talbot College faced a trip to second placed Coleg Llandrillo in their play off. Despite an improved performance and some good tries, NPTC were unable to overcome the more powerful side and went out of the play off's having lost 20 points to 54.