Under 11's County Representation

Congratulations must go to Jack Bates and Kieran Charles who were recently selected to play for the Swansea County team.
The team was picked from players from Swansea Schoolboys and Llwchwr Schoolboys.
Jack and Kieran represented the County and defeated Bridgend and Swansea Valley but lost to Dyfed.
These games were also West Wales squad trials but unfortunately both were not selected.

However, to be considered to be in the best 22 players in the county and to attend these trials is a massive achievement which deserves a mention and a big pat on the back.

Well done boys.

Kieran releases his backline against Swansea Valley

Jack binding at scrum time versus Bridgend

Jack in the maul against Bridgend with Kieran waiting for the ball

Jack Bates and Kieran Charles represent Swansea County

Under 11's V Morriston 18/04/10

18th April 2010

South Gower 14 - Morriston 14

Tries: Ethan Smith, Callum Carson

Conversions: Kieran Charles (2)

Having played yesterday and with several players going on a school trip, we knew our numbers would be low for today's visit from Morriston, who arguably, were our hardest opposition this season.
Having been to west Wales trials this week with Jack and Kieran, the boys knew at least 5 players from Morriston who were at the same trial, hence we knew we would have to perform today.
Again., we started slowly and Morriston opened the scoring with their flying winger getting past us out wide to run a good try. This was converted. We started to play and came close a couple of times through Cameron Barker and Ethan Smith on the wings. Unfortunately, Morriston produced some good work from their backs, who broke through our defensive line to score another try which was converted.

Half time:

South Gower 0 - Morriston 14

We started the second half superbly when Callum and Ethan pressured the catcher after we kicked off. Callum managed to rip the ball free and made for the line. He was stopped 5 metres out and our forwards got their to win the ruck. When the ball came out, Ethan looked blind then darted open to score a good try which Kieran converted.
From the restart we kept up the pressure on Morriston getting close to their line. Jack Bates peeled off the maul with 2 metres to go but put his head down instead of releasing Kieran only to be stopped. Morriston cleared their lines.
We attacked again and some good hands put Callum clear. He looked certain to go in at the corner but decided to cut back into contact a metre from the line to get tackled and knock on over the line. Morriston came back at us but some excellent defence from the team repelled them.
With 5 minutes left we had a penalty in our 22. Kieran lined up to kick to touch when it was noticed that Morriston were dropping deep to collect the clearing kick. Noticing this, Kieran was instructed to tap and release Callum. Cal received the ball in his own 22 before running wide and cutting back in by the opposing 10 metre line, Cal stepped several tackles before galloping clear for an outstanding individual try. Kieran converted.
From the kick off we were turned over but managed to bundle the opposition into touch. From the lineout we cleared our lines into touch and the final whistle went to end a superb committed game of rugby from both sides.

Final score:

South Gower 14 - Morriston 14

This was another outstanding game from the boys who played. The commitment was clear to be seen and the boys worked for each other to register a good result against a team who have not lost this season ! We had our chances to win it when we got over their line once only to be denied a try and a massive overlap to score but the boys were brilliant.

Players to mention:

Ethan Smith: Again Ethan impresses at this age level. Solid in defence with an eye for a gap. Scored a good try and had a superb game.

Callum Carson: An outstanding game from Cal this week. His defence was faultless and it was nice to see the ball in 2 hands ! His try was simply fantastic !!!

Jack Bates: Put himself about tackling everything, making the hard yards and picking up the knocks to go with it. Another great game.

Paul Jones: Brilliant again. So strong and powerful in the tight, Paul won several opposition lineouts and made lots of ground with the opposition on his back ! Great game Paul !

Kieran Charles: Had a few points to prove today and he certainly proved them ! His distribution was spot on and his tackling was ferocious. Fantastic game from Charlo !

Next week we have the Gower Cup at Penclawdd where we really do need to start playing from the final whistle !!
Training Wednesday as normal 18.30hrs. Thanks to all who played this weekend, i am very proud of you all.

Under 11's V Old Bristolians 17/04/10

17th April 2010

South Gower 14 - Old Bristolians -12

Tries: Paul Jones, Ethan Smith

Conversions: Kieran Charles (2)

A beautiful morning saw us welcome Old Bristolians down on tour. We played 12 aside with a number 8 and an extra centre to accommodate the large team the touring side brought down.
Again we started poorly and were not switched on from the off. Old Bristolians scored within the first minutes as we knocked on the kick off and got turned over. Some poor tackling and the opposition registered their first try which was converted. We came back into the game and from a maul on the opposition 22, Paul Jones went on a rampage and powered his way over for a good strong try. Kieran Charles converted. The game was tight and defences were good for the whole game as both sides struggled to break one another down.

Half time:

South Gower 7 - Old Bristolians 7

We came out in the second half with more passion and belief. We got better at the breakdown area and won several turnovers through counter rucking. When we gained a penalty on the opposing 10 yard line, quick thinking by Moggy releasing Kieran who released his backline for Ethan Smith to dart over in the corner.Kieran converted.
Old Bristolians came back at us and through our inability to seal off the sides of the ruck area, the opposition picked up and went through the middle to score a good try. Unfortunately for Old Bristolians, the conversion was missed.
We continued to pressure the opposition and when Harry Silvey drove over in the middle of a maul, the try was disallowed and we were awarded a scrum 5 metres out, we knocked on during the following phase and the whistle for full time was blown

Final Score:

South Gower 14 - Old Bristolians 12

A very competitive match provided the platform for an outstanding game to watch. Some of the play was very good but we need to start playing from the off and not after 5 minutes.

Players to mention:

Kieran Charles: Massive game from Charlo today as he dictated play in the backline and made some crunching tackles. Great game.

Callum Carson: Callums' direct running proved to be a constant threat all game, his defence was spot on as he played a superb all round game. Awesome Cal !

Jack Bates: Jack was everywhere today, taking it on when it needed to be straightened up and passing when the option outside was the right one. Well done Batesy.

Paul Jones: This kid is a monster ! Paul led from the front and did the right things in the tight to have a massive impact on the game. His season seems to be getting better and better. Awesome Paul !

Harry Silvey: Harry was awesome in the tight. His tackling is technically second to none. His performance today showed how much he keeps improving. Well done Silv !

Tom Mogridge: I thought Toms' delivery from scrum half today was much better. To go with his usual in your face energetic display that Tom always displays he had a cracking game, Well done Mogmeister General !

Ospreys ID Festival - Bridgend - 11/04/10

11th April 2010

At Bridgend, we had 17 players for 4 games at 10 minutes a half. Every player was guaranteed at least 2 games.

1st game:

South Gower 1 - Ystragynlais 1

Try: Tom Mogridge

We seem to have a problem lately with switching on at the start of games. This game was poor. With so many handling errors and basic errors we made a meal of this game. We went a try down through atrocious tackling but luckily, Tom Mogridge went blind off a scrum to score one back. We were camped on the opposition line for the last few minutes but our lack of basic skills cost us as the game finished 1-1.

2nd game:

South Gower 3 - Maesteg Welsh 2

Tries: Tom Mogridge, Paul Jones, Ethan Smith

We performed better in this game with a change of 8 personnel. It was a tight match with Moggy scoring first after one of his trademark "i am slippery as a fish" runs to score a good try.
Paul was next to score with a powerful run to make the score 2-2 with minutes left. Finally, after good work by the forwards, the ball went blind from the breakdown and Ethan Smith threw a great sidestep to score the winner in the corner. A much improved performance.

3rd game:

South Gower 3 - Loughor 0

Tries: Ethan Smith, Cameron Barker, Callum Carson.

We performed much better this game and didn't give the opposition a look in all game. Ethan opened the scoring with a great run through the middle of the opposing defence. Next was a great try as we hit up the middle setting up good ruck ball before the ball went through the hands blind to release Cameron Barker to score. Callum Carson rounded off the scoring with a great effort spinning out of tackles and registering another good try.

4th game:

South gower 2 - Porthcawl 0

Tries: Michael Jones, Kieran Charles.

Another great performance as we finished the festival strong. Michael Jones scored a wonderful individual try weaving in and out of everyone to score brilliantly in the corner. Next up saw Callum Carson make the midfield break but as he was tackled he offloaded superbly to Kieran Charles who was motoring through to score a great try. Our discipline was superb in this game as we must have had 15 plus penalties in our favour but we produced good rugby in attack and defence.

Under 11's V Fall Bay 28.03.10

28th March 2010

Fall Bay 7 - South Gower 28

Tries: Paul Jones (2), Tom Mogridge, Callum Carson

Conversions: Jack Bates (3), George Heard

Away at Fall Bay with 15 players, we started well. The first try, we passed well throughout the backs and Paul Jones supported and drove over the line for his first try. Jack Bates converted.
Next up was Moggy, we won our scrum and Moggy went blind weaving his way though players before scoring a good try. Jack converted.
Just before half time, our forwards secured good turnover ball and our backs did the rest with Callum Carson going over for a good try. George Heard converted.

Half time:

Fall Bay 0 - South Gower 21

The second half was a lot tighter with Fall bay using several under 10's players who had come off at half time from their match. They were good under 10's players !
Paul Jones won an opposing lineout and drove over the line with the opposition camping on his back ! Jack converted.
Fall bay hit back with a well taken try which was converted.

Full time:

Fall Bay 7 - South Gower 28

Under 11's V Penclawdd 21/03/10

21st March 2010

South Gower 49 - Penclawdd 14

Tries: Paul Jones (2), Ethan smith, Luke Davies, Owen Renowden (2), Callum Carson, Tom Jenkins (2)

Conversions: Callum Carson (4), George Heard (3)


Penclawdd were short of players so we lent them 3 of our players each half.
We started well when Ethan Smith had a good run before being tackled and offloading to the supporting Paul Jones who went over for his first try which Callum Carson converted.
Next up was a Penclawdd scrum which George Grammenos won against the head and Ethan at scrum half went blind and scored a good try which again was converted by Callum.
Next was a great team try. The forwards to the maul rolling forward before we went all hands and put Luke Davies over in the corner. Callum converted.
Penclawdd then had possession before Callum in the centre ripped the ball free and turned it over. Cal made the hard yards and offloaded to Owen Renowden to score. Callum converted.

Half Time:

South Gower 28 - Penclawdd 0

The second half we gave Penclawdd Paul, Owen and Cameron, and both Owen and Paul crossed for good tries against their own team ! which were converted.
Our next try was when Ethan took the ball into contact and Jack Bates came in to rip it free and pass out to Callum who drifted in for his try. George Heard converted.
Next up was another team try with good rucking by the forwards. Jack, who was playing scrum half this half passed to Ethan at stand off and he put it through the hands to send Tom Jenkins in at the corner. George converted.
Lastly, our forwards rucked and picked up and drove and the second ruck, Jack released his backline to utilise the overlap and Tom Jenkins went in for another try. George converted.

Final score:

South Gower 49 - Penclawdd 14