Narberth 27 pts. Trebanos 23

Currently second in the Championship League, Trebanos brought a large number of supporters to the Lewis Lloyd ground last Saturday, and quickly showed the reason for this support.

After three minutes they were seven points ahead. When the Otters were attacking well into the Trebanos half, a chip kick misfired, allowing the visiting fullback to collect the ball and kick long. In no time at all, their threes were sprinting through and, chasing back, the Otters could not get to the ball, which centre Lloyd Phillips picked up and sped to the line to touch down under the posts. Fullback Mathew Edwards converted.

The Otters responded, only for two attacks two falter, one through a knock-on and the other when the ball was passed into touch.

Then, on six minutes, Narberth were awarded a penalty, which fly-half Jonathan Rogers kicked through the middle of the posts, giving the Otters three points.

Play continued with both teams kicking for position. Then, on 11 minutes, having made ground via two phases, Trebanos made quick use of ruck ball which was fed to inside centre Steffan Lewis, who sold a beautiful dummy and in a flash was through the Otters’ defence to touch down near the posts. Mathew Edwards again added the extras.

The Otters responded, but were persisting with high kicks, which were frequently returned.

On 17 minutes, as a result of a Trebanos chip kick, James Stephenson fielded, only for the chasing Trebanos fullback to hit him with a high tackle, after which he needed immediate attention. Mathew Edwards was sent to the sin bin with a yellow card for the offence, while Stephenson had to be withdrawn, to be replaced by Ianto Griffiths.

Jonathon Rogers took the subsequent penalty kick, adding a further three points to bring the score to 6-14.

At scrum-half, the Otters were fielding young Lewys Gibby and he made a decisive break reaching halfway. He fed the ever-eager Liam Hutchings, who took the ball forward, before being brought to ground. Two minutes later, heeling the ball from a scrum, further ground was made, with both Liam Hutchings and Jake Simm moving forward from the rucks.

The Otters moved left towards the stand side, with Ianto Griffiths feeding the ball quickly to wing Keiron Jones, who, with the Trebanos defence stretched, raced over at the clubhouse corner. Jonathan Rogers failed to find the posts with the conversion.

Four minutes later, fullback Mathew Edwards returned from the bench to kick a Trebanos penalty, giving them a 17-11 lead.

Two minutes later, Narberth were awarded a penalty themselves when the opposition threequarters were penalised for erring offside. Unfortunately, fly-half Rogers failed with his attempt at goal.

Then on 35 minutes, Otters wing Keiron Jones was sent to the sin bin for an illegal tackle, while Trebanos wasted a chance to score a try with an illegal crossing move.

Two minutes before half-time, they added further points with a well-taken penalty to leave the interval score at 20-11 in their favour.

The Trebanos pack showed they were prepared to put pressure on the Otters’ scrum and with their speedy threequarters were proving to be a real challenge for the the home side.

During half-time, a bucket collection was made in support of the ‘Morgan’s Fight Fund’, for which main club sponsors G. D. Harries were holding an event as a fundraiser, with the aim of raising £20,000 at their base at Rowlands View, where WRU head coach, Warren Gatland, was holding a question and answer session, with Pembrokeshire sports writer Bill Carne as compere.

The second half started with the Otters determined to even the score. Their initial moves were spoilt by some weak passing, but on 46 minutes, Trebanos were penalised at the scrum, enabling Jonathon Rogers to kick for the far corner. From the lineout, the Otters mauled forward and when the whistle blew, visiting fly-half Lewis Humphries was given a yellow card and a visit to the sin bin.

The Otters elected to go for a scrum, the ball was quickly released, then moved forward, but when outside centre Jack Price was fed the ball, he dropped it as he attempted to dive over the line.

On 54 minutes, the Otters brought Ollie Evans on to replace Bradley Davies in the front row and centre Paul Davies replaced centre Joe Hutchings. Further change was made when Tom Powell replaced Sean Jenkins in the back row.

With fresh legs, the Otters applied further pressure on Trebanos and, on 60 minutes, gained another three points, with Ianto Griffiths assuming the role of goal-kicker. The score was now 14-20.

The Otters stepped up their attacks, but the Trebanos defence held firm. Both Ollie Evans and Liam Hutchings showed good body strength, forcing Trebanos back with their surges, as were their colleagues, thus applying pressure via several phases. The effort took the Otters to the five-metre line.

Dan Smith was withdrawn after yet another sterling performance, to be replaced by young Rhodri Owen.

Excitement built for the home supporters as the Otters piled into several attempts to cross the line, before powerful Jack Price, gaining the ball, dived over to score a welcome try, with Ianto Griffiths converting to bring the score to 21-20 in Narberth’s favour.

With four minutes remaining, the Otters were penalised on the opposition 22 for a high tackle. They failed to field the subsequent penalty, which was given much height. Trebanos chased, were able to collect the ball and moved forward. At the breakdown, the Otters were penalised, with Mathew Edwards putting his side into the lead again at 23-21.

The Otters kicked out and following up, moved just inside the Trebanos half, where a dramatic game-changing moment occurred, when at a breakdown, on 79 minutes, a visiting forward chose to stamp on Jake Simm, resulting in a red card. With a 40-metre kick from the subsequent penalty, Ianto Griffiths coolly slotted the Otters back into the lead, much to the delight of home supporters.

A minute later, with time just about up, Ianto Evans ripped the ball from a Trebanos player and in the ensuing encounter, the visitors were penalised, enabling Griffiths to add a further three points to seal victory at 27-23.

This game was a real thriller. Trebanos showed why they are in second place in the league, while the Otters are still not achieving the dominance that they were able to last season, with many injuries and disruption through enforced changes. However, all agreed that the game was a real pot-boiler, with the result not decided until the final moments.

Man-of-the-match was awarded by the match sponsor to Richard Rees.

Summarising the game, head coach Sean gale stated: “We are playing well, but the division is harder this year. They scored the first try when we made a defensive error. We shored up our defence and our kicking game was accurate. Our set-piece was good, especially the lineout. We stole a lot of ball off them and dragged ourselves into the game. In the last 20 minutes, we applied the pressure, we won the gain line and eventually the pressure told.

“They are a very good up-and-coming side and I felt we did well to win, though overall we deserved the win. I was pleased with the game, we haven’t been playing particularly well, but still winning games. Richard Rees was outstanding, Alex Jenkins is coming back to his best, Jake Simm had a very good game, Liam Hutching played particularly well and it was good to have Jack Price available again. I was pleased with the result.”

Narberth fielded: James Stephenson (Ianto Griffiths), Liam Hutchings, Joe Hutchings (Paul Davies), Jack Price, Keiron Jones, Jonathan Rogers, Lewys Gibby, Bradley Davies (Ollie Evans), Dan Smith (Rhodri Owen), Tom Slater, Jake Simm, Alex Jenkins (Capt.), Pat Roberts, Sean Jenkins (Tom Powell), Richard Rees.