We welcomed Loughor to Gowerton only 4 weeks since playing them away and were hoping for a far better performance and result this time round. Unavailability of players left the backs with just one substitute. The game started brightly and both teams having plenty of possession before it was stopped due to the ref 'pulling a fetlock' and having to leave the pitch to be replaced by Jeremy Stock. It was the visitors who scored first after 4 minutes and the try was converted. This seemed to kick start our boys into action and some nice moves saw us deep into Loughor's 22 and Brandon Jones broke from a maul close to the line to crash over for a try after 8 minutes, this was converted by Louis Davies. The tries were coming at regular intervals now and after just 12 minutes Loughor crossed over for their second which went unconverted to make it 7-12 to the visitors. The game was being played at great speed and both teams were pressing hard and after 17 minutes, Sam Terry managed to intercept a Loughor move and run some 40 yards and score near the corner flag with Louis Davies kicking a fantasic conversion from far out. We seemed to have the bit beneath our teeth now and after 22 minutes, Brandon Jones crashed through several tackles to go in under the posts and with the converstion kicked by Louis Davies we now led 21-12. Sadly our joy was short lived and Loughor scored their third try within 2 minutes which was unconverted. On the stroke of half time, Loughor once again broke through our defence and raced into the corner to score the half's seventh try and their fourth. This was converted and Loughor led 21-24 at the interval.
With only three points in it, it was still anyone's game, however Loughor were first on the board after just 3 minutes with some nice play seeing them score in the corner and the conversion was kicked to make it 21-31. Sadly, the blight of our season to date...injuries...came back to haunt us once more with both Steff Richards and Ieuan Sleeman going off injured and not to return. This meant some re-shuffling in the backs and some forwards having to play out of position to help out. Loughor's tails were now up and further tries after 9 and 15 minutes, both unconverted saw them race into a 21-41 lead. A further injury to Brandon Jones who went off with a head injury picked up in a try saving tackle just added to our problems in the backs. Loughor once again pressed hard and their livewire flanker went through our defence with hardly a hand put on him to score their 8th try of the game after 18 minutes, this was converted. In fairmess to our players with 12 minutes still to play they dug deep to halt the flood of tries and managed to score a nice try of their own following a break by Alex Graham-Wollard, Theo Evans scored a consolation try in the corner which Louis Davies once again converted right from the touch line to make the final score 28-48. Loughor fully deserved the win and were far more physical in the breakdown area. A reflection of the injuries and lack of backs saw only one back who started the game actually finish the game in the same position! It was an improvement in the scoreline but still a disappointing defeat to our 'noisy neighbours'. Onwards and upwards as they say!
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