Bedwas 38- Narberth 13 On Saturday, Narberth travelled to Bedwas for a league fixture for the first time in almost 10 years. Bedwas have been playing successfully for many years in the Premier division and it was only last season when they finished fourth from bottom that under new regulations they were relegated to the Championship.

Narberth knew, therefore, that they were in for a very tough match and so it proved to be.

Despite a strong team in their own right, they had also obtained on permit from Cardiff RFC two players who had in the past turned out for the Otters. Jordan Roberts was playing on the wing and Brinley Toms was their loose head prop.

Bedwas started the game strongly and in the first 10 minutes, after a defensive error near the Narberth try line, they received a five-metre lineout.

The ball was caught cleanly and slipped back to the Bedwas hooker at the back of a maul. The Bedwas forwards drove towards the line and, despite putting up some brave tackling, the Narberth defence finally succumbed and Bedwas gained their first try of the afternoon, which was not converted.

Narberth tried hard to get back into the game, but the Bedwas defence held firm. However, after a scrum in midfield, Narberth number eight Roy Osborn picked up the ball and drove forward. He beat several players before being brought to ground.

The ball was then quickly moved wide by the Narberth threequarter line and Nick Gale came into the line from fullback and forced his way over in the corner for a well-worked try, which again was not converted.

Further good work by the Narberth forwards resulted in Bedwas giving away a penalty which was kicked by Nick Gale putting Narberth in front by eight points to five. This was shortlived, however, with Jordan Roberts being given quick ball and scoring a try in the corner.

Just before half-time Narberth conceded a penalty for offside and the Bedwas fly-half kicked the goal to leave the score 13-8 in favour of Bedwas at half-time.

There had been very little between the teams during the first half and it looked as though it was going to be a very close game.

Shortly after the break, though, the Bedwas backs again moved the ball wide and, after a defensive error, their left wing brushed past two despairing Narberth tacklers and scored in the corner. The try went unconverted.

At this point Narberth were still in the game and once again Nick Gale broke through the Bedwas defence and slipped a pass to winger Yannic Parker, who scored wide out. Nick Gale failed with the conversion to leave the score 18-13 to the home side.

Unfortunately that was the last contribution which Narberth made to the game.

Bedwas seemed to pick up the intensity of their play and for the last 20 minutes they stretched Narberth from one side of the field to the other and by a combination of good play from Bedwas and some indifferent defence from the Otters, Bedwas were able to run in a further three tries, one of which was converted, and a further penalty to leave the final score at 38-13 to the home side.

Narberth have a tough game at home next week against Cardiff Met, who that same afternoon defeated Neath 20-16, so the Otters will need to be at the top of their game for this coming weekend.

Narberth squad was: Bradley Davies, Rhodri Owens, Tom Kaijaks, Jake Baker, Alex Jenkins, Richard Rees, Dewi Williams, Roy Osborn, Rhys Lane, Ianto Griffiths, Josh Davies, Jake Jenkins, Joe Hutchings, Yannic Parker, Nick Gale, Dan Jacobs, Kyle Hamer, Tom Powell, Lewys Gibby and Jonathan Rogers.