Narberth 34 pts. Glamorgan Wanderers 11

For the first home game of the new year, a good number of supporters attended this Championship League fixture at the Lewis Lloyd ground on Saturday. The Otters had won the away fixture earlier in the season 33-6, when the strong running centres Ollie Reyland and Jack Price played an important part.

Both players had played mid-week and so recognising the situation, coaches Sean Gale and Liam Gadd ensured that they literally played only half a game each against the Wanderers. This gave an opportunity for Joel Hutchings to start and play a meaningful part in the game.

Another feature was the use by the coaches of communication technology during the game, the result of a generous sponsorship.

The game started with a bang, with the Otters scoring an unconverted try within a minute of kick-off. The Wanderers kicked off and the ball was fielded and returned, being sent high into the Wanderers’ half, only for a defender to misfield. This allowed the following-up Otters to take possession and spread the ball to the left side, where Nick Gale sped forward and when challenged passed to Jack Parkinson, who raced to the line, touching down near the top far corner.

The Wanderers responded with a series of attacks, all foundering against the strong Otters defence. Whilst defending, however, the Otters were adjudged to have crept offside and fly-half Luke Fish successfully put the visitors on the scoreboard with his penalty kick.

The Otters nearly scored again from the restart when Nick Gale received the ball, raced forward and kicked ahead, but a second kick ahead was just too strong and, although he nearly made the touchdown, the ball crossed the deadball line first.

Responding, Luke Fish failed to land a penalty following a high tackle, but made no mistake a minute later when again the Otters were penalised, this time for an illegal feed into the scrum.

The successful kick put the Wanderers into a 6-5 lead, but this was to last only six minutes. From a lineout in the visitors’ half, Alex Jenkins provided quality ball to scrum-half Rhys Lane, who passed to the back row outside him; the ball was driven forward, rucked and repeated, before Rhys Lane fed outside-half Jonathan Rogers, who bypassing the centre outside him, sent a long pass to Nick Gale. When he was tackled, the Otters again successfully rucked the ball, which was passed to Ollie Reyland, who was able to put Joe Hutchings clear for a try, converted by Jonathan Rogers.

Eight minutes later, the Wanderers were again on the scoreboard when flanker Jake Conway was able to evade the Otters’ defence to score a try in the far corner. This brought the score to 12-11.

It also gave the visitors the impetus to set up another attack, with Luke Fish placing the ball out of hand on the Otters’ five-metre line. From the lineout, though, Narberth skipper Alex Jenkins made no mistake in ensuring a safe catch, with the ball reaching Jonathan Rogers, standing back behind the line, and he was able to put in a strong clearance kick.

At this stage, the Wanderers withdrew winger Alex Edwards, replacing him with Miles Churcher.

Then, on 37 minutes, the Otters were awarded a scrum and after initially releasing the ball, the pack produced a series of phased rucks, before the Wanderers were penalised for a misdemeanour on the ground, in front of the posts. Jonathan Rogers had no difficulty in putting the ball between the sticks to give the Otters a 15-11 half-time lead.

At this stage, the Wanderers had seen more of the ball, but despite their speedy backs, had been unable to turn their moves into further points due to the well-organised and strong Otters defence.

Narberth kicked off the second half, with the Wanderers quickly returning the ball, which the Otters used to set up a series of rucks, which ended with the Wanderers being penalised for not releasing the ball at the breakdown.

Jonathon Rogers kicked towards the clubhouse corner. At the lineout, Pat Roberts jumped well and, with the ball safely gathered, set up a rolling maul, only for the Wanderers to again be penalised. Jonathan Rogers kicked to the five-metre line, where again Alex Jenkins was the receiver, feeding Pat Roberts, who crossed the line for a well-worked try. The difficult angle defeated the attempted conversion.

A few minutes later, inside centre Ollie Reyland was withdrawn to be replaced by normal partner Jack Price, while soon after, Pat Roberts was also replaced by Lawrence Reynolds.

Jack Price began to make his presence felt with several strong running attacks, only to be thwarted by either a foot in touch or a pass going astray.

Further changes were made by the Otters coaches, with Lyndon Cooper replacing Bradley Davies and Calumn Tree coming on for Steffan Phillips at number eight.

With the Wanderers weakening, the home pack became dominant and several attacks were set up, only for a pass to once again go astray, allowing the visitors to hold out.

Then, with 10 minutes remaining, the Otters were awarded a penalty kick which resulted in a lineout on the five-metre line. This time, Jake Simms was the receiver and a rolling maul was set up, which the Wanderers managed to hold up, but the referee awarded a scrum on the five-metre line. The Otters pack, now in control, forced the Wanderers backwards, with initially Lawrence Reynolds controlling the ball in the back row, before Calumn Tree dropped on it for a bonus point try, with Jonathan Rogers converting.

Alex Jenkins had suffered an injury earlier and was replaced by Jake Jenkins.

Then five minutes before time, the Wanderers attacked, reaching the home 22, only to lose the ball to the Otters, who set up an excellent final try, with the ball initially taken forward by Jack Price, with further hard running by Liam Hutchings, followed by Nick Gale, who set Joe Hutchings free to cross for his second try, which was again converted by Jonathan Rogers, giving a final score of 34-11.

It proved a fine win, with a strong performance by the Otters in the second half through great team spirit and fitness. Aterwards, the clubhouse was awash with happy supporters and further cheered when David Gibbs announced that Tata Steel had lost to Skewen, the five-point win taking the Otters into a clear second place.

The man-of-the-match award was chosen by the match sponsors Haverfordwest Coins Ltd. and Folly Farmand went to popular clubman and hooker Dan Smith.

Sean Gale, head coach, commented later: “After a sticky first half, we improved second half. Regarding performances, Nick Gale played well at fullback with his counter-attacking. We scored some fine tries. Alex Jenkins played well, Dewi Williams is developing well. Jack Price made a huge difference when he came on in the second half. Overall, I was very happy with the set-piece, the backs dominated in the second half, we scored a push-over try. At the moment, we have a great set-piece and huge defence. As coaches, we are very happy where we are.”

Narberth fielded: Nick Gale, Liam Hutchings, Joe Hutchings, Ollie Reyland (Jack Price), Jack Parkinson, Jonathan Rogers, Rhys Lane, Bradley Davies (Lyndon Cooper), Dan Smith, Tom Slater, Jake Simm, Alex Jenkins (Jake Jenkins), Pat Roberts (Lawrence Reynolds), Dewi Williams, Steffan Phillips (Calumn Tree).