U12's 30/09/07 South Gower V Mumbles RFC (Home)

The local derby, where most of the players from both teams know one another and looked determined to play a great game of rugby, looking for a win to earn the bragging rights in school the following day. South Gower took the lead after a hell for leather start where some great ball handling through the back line sent Gower winger Kieran Shreves in at the corner for a classing try, the timing of the passing and the drawing of the man from Jack Hooper-Lewis gave Gower an early confidence boost.
Mumbles, new they had more in them and enjoyed a passage of play dominating up-front, retaining possesion through the rucks building the phases and pressure which earnt Mumbles their first 5 pointer plus the conversion. The restart saw much the same, South Gower were pushed off the ball in the rucks and with further phase play Mumbles scored another try just before half time.
At 5 - 12 to Mumbles, the South Gower boys had some ground to make up, the aggression levels lifted allowing Chay Smith who spotted a gap to tram line the touch line and a successfull hand off to make a 35m run for an under the posts try.
Both sides at this point were capable of clinching the game, the Mumbles pack verses the slick hands and pace of the Gower backs, but Mumbles again had the upper hand claiming another try that was successfully converted. At 10 - 19 to Mumbles and 10 minutes to go, Gower forwards went on the rampage, Rob Mogridge, Lewis Clarke, Eliot Owen driving forward making the hard yards with No.8 Sam Jones almost making it to the white line but with a final off load to Jonno Blakemore who gained another try for the Gower boys.
At 15 - 19 to Mumbles, the clock was ticking down to the final whistle. The All Blacks were chasing a final attack, but on this day it wasn't to be. Two distinct styles of play, backs verses forwards, matched on try count, but Mumbles being able to add the extras, gave them the win. However, it really was great entertaining rugby for all the supporters to see. Unlucky boys...
South Gower Man of the match being Kieran Shreves for marking his winger, and staying out in space earning him a classic wingers try.