Division Four West

Penybanc 18 Gowerton 37

The league leaders inflicted the Tigers’ first home defeat of the season after Banc suffered the hammer blow of losing prop Rhodri Jones with a nasty head injury inside the opening minutes.

The visitors made the most of his departure and scored soon after in a physical encounter with both sides giving their all.

Gowerton scored again soon after while Banc fly-half Mathew Lloyd kicked a couple of penalties to keep them in it, and only great defence from Gowerton held Banc out after good work from wing Christian Hughes and full back Wayne Williams.

It was more of the same from the away team in the second half with their impressive scrum-half bringing his big forwards on to the ball.

The Banc defence had their hands full all day dealing with the direct running of the Gowerton team and they soon scored another to pull away.

Banc won a scrum on the 22 and Lloyd slipped a pass to Hughes who went over in the corner to mount a Banc fightback and this was a followed by a superb solo effort from No 8 Chris Jones to bring the hosts right back into the game.

However, thoughts of a comeback were dashed when the league leaders showed their quality with two late tries.

Banc lost replacement prop James Harris late on to add to the long injury list but his replacement Zac Rees acquitted himself well.

There were many big performances throughout the team and everyone got stuck in.

The tigers next travel to Trimsaran.