It is one of sport’s most often used clichés but this really was a game of 2 halves. Gowerton had been running in to some good form since resuming fixtures earlier in the month. Always competitive, they had shown more attacking promise and greater structure to their game than previously and they started well against a team with a big reputation.
This was disciplined but confident rugby. Rhys D make one excellent early saving tackle before Charlie W began to exploit the space behind Neath with some excellent tactical kicking.
Gowerton were thankful that Rhys D made another try saving tackle before Elliot H secured lineout ball that eventually found its way to Charlie W to kick on for Kieran H to make progress down the wing. Elliot H managed to disrupt a Neath lineout and enable Ieuan E to make further progress up the field. This was an encouraging start for the boys and they were tackling ferociously, with Josh B, Elliot H, Charlie W and Kieran H all making telling contributions.
Josh B managed to hold Neath up on the line, before they eventually succumbed to quick ball out wide allowing Neath to go over and open the scoring.
Showing great character, Gowerton responded instantly with a kick from deep chased down by Kieran H and Alex J who set up Rhys D to go over. The boys continued to compete hard at the breakdown but it was Neath’s running from deep and speed of pass that saw them go over in the corner to make it 5-10 at the half.
Whether it was the effort of that first half, or if Neath just raised their game but the second half was one long defensive effort by the boys. The drop in intensity created room for a clinical Neath team to move the ball freely and, despite some fine tackling the boys were outplayed and Neath ran in 6 tries without replay.
There continued to be some strong performances – the backs, well organised by Jac S and Charlie S, continued to press where they could, but with a pack under increasing pressure they often found themselves on the back foot. The back row of Jack G, James R and Ieuan E continued to go forward, but it was very much as individuals rather than as a group, and the front 5 competed well at the set piece.
So, well beaten but much to feel positive about in terms of the overall performance with everyone showing a much greater maturity about their play and a lot of spirit to stay competitive until the end. Final Score 5-40.
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