Newbridge 8 pts. Narberth 37

Narberth travelled to the Welfare ground at Newbridge with a stronger team than the previous week despite the unavailability of several players through injury.

Experienced scrum half Rhys Lane who suffered a head injury the previous week was replaced by young Lewis Gibby, and with Ianto Griffiths unavailable, James Stephenson moved to fly half, with Nick Gale moving to fullback.

Before kick-off, both teams and supporters stood for a minute’s silence in respect of the Aberfan tragedy of 50 years ago.

The ground seemed in fair condition when Newbridge kicked-off. The early moments saw both sides attempt to attack with both defences holding firm. Newbridge attacked with their fly half placing a kick to the far corner, a chase ensued but the ball went dead requiring a scrum back where the kick occurred. The Otters won the heel and James Stephenson kicked to the 22. The ball was retrieved and on receiving a clean pass Stephenson attempted a drop goal which missed the target. Newbridge kicked to the Otters half and a return kick was fielded and again kicked with the ball being fumbled into touch by the Otters. From the lineout, Newbridge attempted a few phases before letting the ball out for fly half Simon Veall to attempt a drop goal himself, again missing the target Unfortunately, a Narberth high tackle enabled the ref to award a penalty which Veall was able to find the posts and give Newbridge a three point lead at eight minutes. On 12 minutes, the Otters set-up a possible try scoring move, unfortunately, the final pass, with the try line begging was fumbled into touch. A few minutes later, with Newbridge attacking just inside the Otters half, they gained another penalty with the Otters defence adjudged in an offside position. Simon Veall failed to find the target. Half-way through the half saw a promising otters attack with James Stephenson breaking through the defence to send Nick Gale sprinting towards the line only to be brought down inside the Newbridge 22. A ruck formed and a fracas started which the referee being unsighted warned both teams. It was becoming clear that the Otters were bossing the scrums and at the lineout captain Alex Jenkins was supreme, well-supported he was taking the Newbridge lineouts as well as his own and so it was only a matter of time before the Otters moved ahead. On 30 minutes, the first Narberth try was scored. It started with Alex Jenkins winning the lineout passing to scrum half Lewis Gibby who efficiently fed the ball to inside centre Ollie Reyland who breaking the gain line passed to Nick Gale. Nick sped around the defenders to touch down and convert his try. Newbridge attempted to attack, but the Otters defence remained strong. Newbridge lost their competent fullback Richard Powell replaced by Luke Price. A moment later, one of their props suffered a blood injury. A scrum formed and with the Otters applying their scrum power forced a penalty which Nick Gale converted giving the Otters a 3-10 lead at half-time. Whilst Newbridge had set-up several attacks during the half, they were unable to pierce the Otters defence and with the increasing grip of the Otters pack it was only going to be a matter of time before further tries occurred.-During half time, the sun brightly broke through the clouds but with the Welfare grounds being laid out north/south, it did not cause a problem shining across the field of play. On 45 minutes, the second Narberth try was scored. From a Newbridge lineout in their 22, Newbridge attempted to run the ball out and with the Otters moving forward the fly half kicked, the ball hitting a Narberth player and bouncing back to the defenders line and with the Otters chasing through flanker Pat Roberts, he quickly dropped on the ball to touch down for an unconverted try. This was followed five minutes later when James Stephenson, from 30 metres infront of the posts, was successful with his penalty kick taking the Otters clear at 3-18. The next 12 minutes saw the Otters setting up several attacks where both Alex Jenkins and his second row partner Jake Simm were giving clean ball at both their and Newbridge lineouts. On 62 minutes, Ryan Banner replaced Simon Jenkins in the back row and Bradley Davies replaced Dylan Cooper at loose head. A lineout 10 metres from the Newbridge line enabled Lewis Gibby to feed Ollie Reyland and on passing to a forward, a maul developed and then moved near the try line. A scrum was declared and with the Otters pack in supreme control, the ref awarded a penalty try. Nick Gale converted. Newbridge kicked-off and gaining the ball kicked enabling a lineout on the Otters 22. Newbridge stifled the Otters backs and attempted an attack only to be brought down and for the ref to award a penalty to the Otters. Nick Gale produced a cannon ball kick with the ball landing in the opponents 22. Winning the ball again, the Otters set-up several rucks before Lewis Gibby darted forward and again passed to Ollie Reyland who fed the ball to Jack Price for him to power over the line touching down giving the Otters a bonus point try which Nick Gale converted taking the score to 3-25 Five minutes later, on 75 minutes, the Otters scored their fifth try. From a scrum in the Newbridge half, Lewis Gibby passed to James Stephenson, the ball was moved from right to left side reaching the Otters back row, before Joel Hutchings made a break feeding Nick Gale on the stand side, his pace was too much for the replacement fullback with the ball being touched down far out for an unconverted try. Lawrence Headlam then replaced wing Jack Parkinson. On 79 minutes, Newbridge were awarded a penalty and kicked to within seven metres of the Otters line. Surprisingly winning their own lineout, they set-up an attack moving the ball quickly to the far side for wing Andrew Evans to score a consolation try on the on 80 minutes. The conversion failed and the referee blew full-time giving the Otters a handsome 8-37 point bonus point win.

This was an improved performance by the Otters, the strong spirit in the squad as evident throughout. Defensively, the Otters teamwork kept the Newbridge attacks at bay and they always looked as though they would keep their line intact.

The pack played a huge role in this game with the front five in control of the tight situations and the back row alert both in defence and attack. The new half back partnership worked well with the centres strong running at every opportunity. The Otters really were back to form.

In the clubhouse, head coach Sean Gale commented: “I am very pleased with the result. We had forward dominancy in the first 25 minutes and basically we used that as a tool for the bonus point win. At our lineout, we cracked them and our scrum was very positive and from there we had a very good kicking game with James Stephenson ruling the game, Lewis Gibbin had a very good first game, Jack Price was excellent in defence, Dylan Cooper at loose head was excellent, Steff Phillips and Sean Jenkins worked really hard. We matched the intensity that was not there the previous week, we dictated the game rather than letting Newbridge dictate us.”

Narberth fielded: Nick Gale, Joel Hutchings, Jack Price, Ollie Reyland, Jack Parkinson (Lawrence Headlam), James Stephenson, Lewis Gibbin, Dylan Cooper (Bradley Davies), Dan Smith, Tom Kaijacks (Ryan Rees), Jake Simm, Alex Jenkins (capt.), Pat Roberts ( Ryan Banner), Sean Jenkins, Steffan Phillips.

Tomorrow (Saturday, October 29), Narberth play Glynneath at home. Glynneath have run into a little bit of form and this should prove to be an entertaining fixture.