Under 11's V Penlan 20.09.09

20th September 2009

Penlan 0 - South Gower 70

Tries: Callum Carson (2), Kieran Charles (2), Jack Bates (2), Cameron Barker, Ethan Smith, Michael Jones, Ieaun Hulme.

Conversions: Jack Bates (2), Kieran Charles (3), Callum Carson (2), George Heard (2), Owen Renowden.

Sunday morning, Mynydd Newydd, warm and sunny ????? something wasn't right !!!
With a squad of 16 turning up for the Gower, everyone was to play rugby. We started brightly against Penlan, with Kieran Charles smashing his way through several tackles to register his first try for the All Blacks. Jack Bates kicked the conversion. Next up was Callum Carson. Good work from our forwards, we won the scrum against the head and put it through the hands to Callum who went over for his first try of the day. Kieran Charles obliged with the conversion.
More good work from the forwards in the maul area provided Jack Bates with his try. Jack ripped the ball from the maul and proceeded to flatten several opposition players before scoring his first of the day. Callum converted.
Next up was Michael Jones, scoring his first try in the All Black shirt. Michael, curved around the entire pitch from 30 yards out to score a fine try in the corner.
The next try was a joy to watch. Starting in our half, our forwards took the ball on, with Owen, Paul and Jack combining well. We created a ruck outside the opposition 22 when the ball came to Kieran at outside half, he had the vision and threw a miss pass straight to Ethan Smith on the wing who raced home to score the games best try. Jack Bates converted.

Half time: Penlan 0 - South Gower 35

Substitutions were made at half time so everyone got game time. Some lovely play in our back sent Ieaun Hulme racing for the line. Unfortunately, Ieaun put the ball down 5 metres short thinking it was the try line. A ruck followed and Penlan were penalised for lying over the ball. From the penalty a pass was made to Cameron Barker at outside half who did a lovely switch with Kieran Charles who smashed his way over from 5 yards. Kieran converted his own try.
Ieaun, feeling quite gutted that his effort was placed short, made ammends 2 minutes later when Kieran released Ieaun to coast in from 20 yards. Owen Renowden converted.
Next up was Cameron Barker, who made a lovely sweeping break. His pace was too much for Penlan and he rounded off a great try. Kieran converted.
Penlan kick off, Jack Bates catches, try ! Jack caught the ball from kick off and raced through Penlan, hair and braids flowing, to score immediately. Callum converted.
With the game coming to an end, Callum Carson raced clear to score his second try of the day which George Heard converted to finish the game at 70 points to nil.

This was a good performance from South Gower, but in truth, did us no favours.
The boys need to know that this will definitely not happen every week with the likes of Waun, Uplands, Morriston and Mumbles to play, we are likely to find ourselves in very tough games.

Next up is Waunarlydd home Sunday, a team we have never beaten in this age group. With confidence high and the players performing, it could possibly not come at a better time.
One thing we do need to concentrate on is our teamwork. Too often players are taking the ball on for too long with players outside to pass to. We need to realise that to get better, we need to play more as a team and not as talented individuals.

Players to mention.

George Grammenos: George has been converted to hooker this year and performed fantastically. Winning several scrums against the head and accurate line out throwing, he had a great game.
Michael Jones: Michael has been playing rugby less than a year but is learning quick and showed his potential with his first try for the club.
Kieran Charles: His first tries for the All blacks, good solid performance, sure to see a lot more from Charlo !
Dylan Griffiths: Took Wednesday's training on board and was digging for the ball at scrum half and his Passing was good from the set pieces.

As i mentioned, we have Waunarlydd home Sunday in what is sure to be a tough game, but with the right attitude, TEAMWORK and belief, we have a great chance.

Under 11's V Gowerton 13.09.09

13th September 2009

Gowerton 5 - South Gower 40

Tries : Jack Bates (3), Tom Mogridge (2), Callum Carson (2), Ethan Smith.
(No conversions taken in this game)

Match Report

Our 1st game of the season was away to Gowerton on a beautiful sunny morning. We started the 1st half well and within 2 minutes we had registered our first try. A South Gower scrum just inside the Gowerton half provided the platform for Tom Mogridge to pick up at the back of the scrum and go blind. Tom stepped a few players and sprinted in for his 1st try from 35 yards. Minutes later, good work by our forwards provided the platform for our backs. Moggy got the ball to Cameron who in turn fed Callum who powered his way through several tackles to register our second score.
Clearly buoyed by our good start, some more good mauling from our forwards, we smuggled the ball back to Jack Bates who powered his way over from 20 yards out. Gowerton restarted and we started going through the phases before more good work from the forwards presented clean ball to Moggy at scrum half. He had the vision to spot the gap and go clean through for another impressive try. Coming to half time, more pressure from the mighty all blacks provided us with our 5th try. Jack Bates ripped the ball from his opponents, peeled off the back of the maul for another try.

Half time - South Gower 25, Gowerton 0.

5 subs made at half time to ensure everyone plays, and we started on the offensive again, with some lovely hands through the backs getting the ball to Ethan Smith on the wing. Ethan defied his size stepping past players and diving over in the corner with the opposition hanging on to him. A moments lapse in concentration saw Gowerton apply pressure on us going through several phases with their forwards with good rucking and the opposition managed to slip a tackle and register a try from 20 yards.
Restart and after a good turn over and a few phases, the ball went wide to Sam Jones on the wing who was tackled. In support first was Jack Bates who drove forward and stretched for the line with Gowerton trying to hold him back, Jack scored his 3rd try.
With 5 minutes remaining, it was time for Kieran Charles to enter the fray. Kieran transferred to us from Gowerton this season. Unfortunately, Kieran suffered a nasty accident in training wednesday putting his debut for the All Blacks in doubt against his former club. After pleading and pleading to play, It was agreed to give him his 5 minutes against them. He put in a few solid tackles before setting up our last try. The ball came to him at outside half from a scrum in our own half, a dummy scissors and sprint before passing to Callum Carson on the wing, who stepped his way past several tackles to score our last try.
This was an impressive performance from the boys considering they have only had 2 training sessions since may. Parts of our play have been identified that we need to concentrate on in training which will be rectified.

Players to mention.

Sam Jones, new to rugby half way through last season, showed massive improvement, taking the ball on several times and making some great tackles.
Elliot Waddington, made some very impressive tackles before being forced off injured.
Michael Jones, another player new to the game last season, is now running with confidence and tackling really well.
Ethan Smith, an under 10 playing a year up, again showed why he is doing just that ! more impressive though was his tackling, much better. well done Ethan.
We have Penlan away next week as we will look to build on an impressive opening game of the season.
Well done Boys.