Narberth 11 pts. Beddau 26

This game had potential, Beddau, whilst several points behind, were lying immediately below Narberth in the SEE SWALEC Championship table and after poor starts in their earlier games had won their last three games. This change in their fortune was emphasised by the number of travelling supporters who made the journey.

Narberth fielded a side with changes due to several injuries, but saw the game as an opportunity for some of the younger, newer members.

The game was played throughout in sometimes very heavy rain. The ground, as a result of the recent dry weather, stood up well to the game and the continual rain.

The impartial supporters enjoyed a competitive game, which on the day Beddau deserved the win. However, Narberth supporters were incensed at some very debatable decisions and lack of action on some very physical moments.

Narberth kicked off and immediately showed intent and it was obvious that both defences were strong. The Otters set up a series of phased thrusts by the pack. The ball was released and Rhys Lane fed Nick Gale who, seeing his way blocked, sent a high kick to the far corner, but the right wing was unable to capitalise, with the ball ending in touch.

On seven minutes, Nick Gale failed with a penalty attempt, with the ball hitting the post.

Beddau collected the ball and attacked strongly into the Otters’ 22, their scrum-half collected a kick and cleared the danger with a kick to the far touchline.

Beddau returned to attack and, as a result of a failed interception, were awarded a penalty and their fly-half Hywel Chatham succeeded with his kick, giving Beddau a three-point lead.

The same player had another opportunity on 18 minutes as a result of a ruck infringement. This time his kick veered to the right of the posts.

The Otters continued to attack through a series of successful phased rucks until on 23 minutes Beddau again offended at the ruck and this time Nick Gale succeeded with the penalty kick, making the score 3-3.

Three minutes later, Beddau went ahead again. Narberth, collecting a kick, returned the ball to the Beddau 22. Beddau then moved forward with a series of phased rucks interspersed with breaks across the gain line. The Otters’ defence initially remained strong, but moving the ball from stand side to the opposite wing dragged the defence out of line, allowing wing Cody Baker to score a try, which Hywel Chatham converted.

At the same time, Beddau’s centre Lewis Egal was yellow-carded.

There followed a series of Narberth attacks, with scrum-half Rhys Lane, a key initiator with his sniping breaks and clever kicks, seen lying prone after suffering a high tackle.

As action continued, Ianto Griffiths failed with a drop-kick. Beddau kicked out, the Otters collected and this time Nick Gale attacked on the stand side and was seemingly tackled into touch, but instead the Otters were awarded a penalty. The Otters attempted to attack, but this time Ianto Griffiths was fouled and a yellow card issued. Nick Gale was successful with the resultant penalty.

At the same time, Rhys Lane was taken off, having not recovered from his head injury caused by the high tackle, and was replaced by Gethin Gibby, who moved to wing, with Nick Gale moving to fullback and James Stephenson taking over as scrum-half.

Beddau attacked strongly and gained a lineout near the Otters’ lin. From the lineout, they set up a rolling maul which eventually crossed the Otters line. From the stand it was impossible to judge, but it seems several Otters were below the attempted touchdown, but after consulting the Beddau touchline official, an unconverted try was awarded. The scorer was named as number seven Leon Rogers, giving Beddau a 15-6 lead.

Based on play in the first half, the Otters lacked their normal strong determination which has been evident in previous games.

At half-time, chairman of the junior section, Martin Bowen, presented a generous cheque of £5,000 to the senior club, whose management representative is Robert Lewis. There was also a collection made on behalf of Diabetes UK.

The second half kicked off and the Otters were immediately put under pressure. Beddau, clearly inspired by their first half lead, tested the Otters’ defensive structure time and again with high kicks and for a while both teams resorted to a kicking duel, which ended to Beddau’s benefit, using the kicks to attack. Maybe kicking into touch or attempting phased play might have reduced pressure.

On 50 minutes, Narberth brought on second rower Jake Simm in place of number eight Steffan Phillips, with Joe Powell moving to the middle of the back row. Then at a ruck, hooker Dan Smith emerged clearly suffering from a head injury, staggering on his feet and attempting to play on. He was withdrawn immediately and ex Youth front rower Aaron Mayne was brought off the subs bench.

A minute later, the referee awarded a scrum and the loss of Dan Smith was immediately seen, with the Otter’s pack being pushed off the ball. A further scrum was called and this time the Otters held the push by wheeling, for which Beddau were awarded a penalty, which Hywel Chatham had no problem in slotting between the posts, increasing the Beddau lead to 18-6.

With the pack holding their own again in the tight, the Otters heeled, with Gethin Gibby feeding to Ianto Griffiths, the threes worked the ball to the left, switching back across, then back again, with Nick Gale running in an arc towards the clubhouse, only to be forced into touch.

After the Beddau lineout, the Otters regained possession, being awarded a scrum for a knock-on which they heeled and moved across field towards the clubhouse side where, with the Beddau defence extended, wing Jack Parkinson was able to touch down near the corner for an unconverted try on 60 minutes, making the score 18-11.

Unfortunately, the Otters’ fightback was halted when they were penalised for again turning the scrum and Hywel Chatham added a further three points to the Beddau score.

A few minutes later, Dewi Williams came off the subs bench to replace Ryan Rees in the front row and thereafter uncompetetive scrums became necessary.

Two minutes later, Jake Jenkins also came on as a replacement for centre Joe Hutchings.

Again Beddau attacked and their move was halted by a perceived dangerous tackle by Jake Simm, who was yellow-carded.

Two minutes before full-time, Beddau were awarded a controversial try. The ball was kicked on by Beddau to near the Otters’ line and their wing James Cashin attempted to drop on the ball. Initially the try was not awarded, but guided by the Beddau touch judge, the referee changed his mind to award an unconverted try, The final score ending at 26-11 to the visitors.

This was an unhappy afternoon for the Otters and their supporters, with two key players suffering head injuries, which may sideline them for several weeks, and two tries where the referee controversially sought the advice of the away touch judge.

Furthermore, the Otters were not as street-wise as their opponents, kicking the ball too often to the opposition by attempting long touchline kicks to attempt to pin them in their 22 when a shorter kick would have clearly have made the touchline. There was not the same determination from the squad that supporters had come to expect and on the day Beddau deserved their win as the better team.

The sponsors’ man-of-the-match was Otters’ captain Alex Jenkins.

Later head voach Sean Gale commented: “A disappointing result, we have been particularly good the last five or six games and some of the boys have developed well. Due to injuries, there were six or seven boys out there who lacked a bit of experience, and during the game itself, we experienced a few injuries to crucial players, Rhys Lane went down in the first half, then Dan Smith,; both have played really well since the start of the season.

“We were really disappointed with the game, but it is not the end of the world. We are playing well and hope to get the injured players back for the next game.

“A lot of the boys tried hard out there. I thought Nick Gale tried particularly very hard, Ianto Griffiths defended very, very well, Sean Jenkins had a really good effort in the backrow.

“In some ways, the defeat was to be expected. There were young lads out there and the game sometimes was a lesson to learn for the rest of the season. I am disappointed with the performance and the result, the injuries during the game were telling.

“I do not like commentating on officials, but some of the decisions were mind-blowing; the opposition were very physical and it was not dealt with. We have to move on and address the situation before the next game against Newbridge.”

Narberth fielded: James Stephenson, Nick Gale, Joe Hutchings (Jake Jenkins), Ollie Reyland, Jack Parkinson, Ianto Griffiths, Rhys Lane (Gethin Gibby), Bradley davies, Dan Smith (Aaron Mayne), Ryan Rees (Dewi Williams), Joe Powell (Jake Simm), Alex Jenkins (capt.), Pat Roberts, Sean Jenkins, Steffan Phillips (Joe Powell).