Brains SA Bowl Final

Brynaman 23 Gowerton 17

Bryn’s seasoned campaigners guided the Greens to their first WWRU Bowl Trophy against newly-crowned Division Two West champions Gowerton.

Bryn began the contest as underdogs, but under the shrewd guidance of head coach Mark Jones and his team the Greens were quietly confident of springing a surprise.

One of Gowerton’s main threats was their talismanic player-coach Gareth King, but when Bryn centre Steffan Duggan floored him with a superb tackle in the opening minutes it showed the Greens meant business.

After a tense and cagey opening, Bryn seized the game’s first scoring opportunity when scrum-half Dafydd Jones landed a successful penalty.

With the Greens awarded the put in for the game’s first scrummage, the gnarled front row of Alun Morgan, Steff Weaver-Davies and Dewi Slyman seized their opportunity and cranked up the power. Initially the scrummage was held up but at the reset, Gowerton strayed offside to disrupt Bryn’s possession illegally and the subsequent yellow card was inevitable.

To make the most of their advantage, Bryn opted for another scrum and this time a quick release allowed blindside flanker Joel Spurway to dart away from the base and power over for the first try. Dafydd Jones converted to give Bryn a 10-0 lead with the half hour approaching.

Bryn were awarded two kickable penalties, but both Craig Jones’ attempts drifted wide.

Just as Bryn appeared to be asserting full control, Gowerton bounced back with a five-minute purple patch and caught Bryn with a well-taken try.

The successful conversion reduced the arrears to 10-7 going into the break.

Almost immediately after the break Gowerton levelled only for outside-half Jones to finally find his kicking boots and edge Bryn back in front.

Bryn shuffled their pack and got themselves back on the front foot.

They thought they had extended their lead when wing Owain Sullivan went clear wide left only for the official to rule he had stepped into touch.

Bryn were soon back on the attack and a lineout drive spearheaded by Andy Green and Dafydd Hopkins paved the way for prop Steff Weaver–Davies to crash over for Bryn’s second try. Jones slotted the conversion for a 20-10 advantage.

With ten minutes remaining Greens captain Sion Slyman was shown yellow for Bryn’s cumulative penalty count and from the resultant penalty Gowerton dived over for their second try.

The conversion reduced the difference to 20-17 and the tension mounted going into the final minutes.

There was welcome relief when ice-cool Jones converted a late to secure the result and give Bryn their first Bowl trophy in the club’s history.