Narberth 13 pts. Pontypool 18

This was a typical top-of-the-table clash, full of drama and excitement and a game turned on its head by the referee’s decision to issue a red card.

Pontypool, leaders of the championship before the game by nine points, were clearly concerned at meeting Narberth, having urged their supporters to turn up in numbers, but strangely the Pooler call was rarely heard.

Narberth made two changes from the previous week, bringing in James Stephenson at fullback, with Nick Gale returning to his normal wing position and Lyndon Cooper replacing young Bradley Davies in the front row.

Pontypool fielded a strong XV, with much expected from their fly-half Mathew Jones, among whose previous clubs had been Ospreys, Dragons and Worcester, and in the first game at Pontypool, in atrocious conditions, had put the Otters to the sword.

The Otters kicked-off, but with the kick failing to clear 10 metres, a scrum was called. This produced the first moment of drama when veteran prop Justin Hughes sustained a pulled hamstring. Justin has played an important role in recent games in providing a solid platform in the scrum. This had the Otters supporters much concerned and replacement Tom Slater was urged on, having shown his worth in previous seasons.

Pontypool heeled and the ball was fed to Mathew Jones, who put the Otters back into their 22. A clean catch by the Otters saw Rhys Lane produce a relieving kick.

On five minutes, the Otters were penalised for being offside and Mathew Jones had no difficulty in giving Pooler a three-point lead.

The Otters kicked out a long ball, Pooler fed it to fullback Tom Hancock and Otters supporters cheered as Ianto Griffiths, following up from his kick, charged down the attempted clearance, but running forward with only the line to cross, he knocked the ball forward as he attempted to collect it.

At the five-metre scrum there was a scrum offence and Pooler, via Mathew Jones, were able to clear their lines, the ball landing just inside the Otters’ half. Pontypool maintained the pressure on the Otters, but the well-structured home defence kept them from making much progress.

On nine minutes, Pooler showed their frustration and the crowd witnessed a fierce tussle, with both packs giving no quarter. The referee, unable to identify the perpetrators, issued a warning to both captains. Unfortunately, though, throughout this closely contested game there were further incidents.

Five minutes later, Nick Gale failed to score via a 45-metre penalty kick which was into a strong easterly breeze.

The Otters were beginning to put Pooler under pressure and it was clear that Tom Slater was beginning to exert significant pressure in the the set-piece which reduced Pooler’s scrum efficiency.

A period of high kicks by both fullbacks eventually saw centre Jack Price field a Pooler kick and pass to James Stephenson, who raced forward and, when faced by the opposing forwards, kicked over their heads, but was unable to gather the rolling ball. However, the Otters rucked successfully and again the ball reached Jack Price, who using his strong running, forced Pooler to offend. Unfortunately, Nick Gale again failed with the penalty kick into the breeze.

On 25 minutes, the Otters were awarded another penalty and this time Nick Gale was able to level the scores with the resultant kick.

Five minutes later, Pooler were attacking in the Otters’ half and were awarded a penalty, and having failed with a drop goal attempt, Mathew Jones put Pontypool in the lead with the kick from in front of the posts.

Once again a kicking game was used by both sides, before the Otters made ground through several phased moves by the pack and, with the back row prominent in the Pooler 22, the referee awarded a scrum; the Otters pack heeled and Rhys Lane fed Ollie Reyland, but with the visitors’ line close, the ball was unfortunately knocked on.

At the scrum, Pooler heeled and moved up field. However, just inside the Narberth 22 another scrum was formed and the Otters won the heel. Rhys Lane fed James Stephenson, he moved forward and passed on to Ollie Reyland, who in turn fed outside centre Jack Price, who in inimitable fashion, attempted to force his way through the defence, only to be bundled into touch.

From the lineout, Pooler were forced into a scrum, which they heeled, and scrum-half Aaron Quick passed to the fullback, who attempted to clear the pressure, but alert second row Jake Simm burst forward to charge down the kick and quickly followed it over the line to touch down.

This time Nick Gale made sure of the conversion, with the referee blowing his whistle for half-time with the Otters 10-6 ahead.

Pontypool had initially had the better of the half, but with a strong defence, the Otters began gaining more possession and had the penalty kicks succeeded, the interval lead would have been greater.

Another potential kicking duel started the second half, but it was another tussle on the ground which caused the referee to issue two yellow cards, with opposing centres Ollie Reyland and Dan Robinson sent to the sin-bin.

Two minutes later, Pontypool replaced fullback Tom Hancock with the experienced Keiron Meek.

Unfortunately, yet another fracas soon occurred when two more two cards were issued. The Pontypool player received a yellow card, but Liam Hutchings received a red card for an off-the-ball incident, with the referee seemingly seeing his response to the Pooler player’s provocation. This had Otters supporters howling outrage as they immediately recognised the advantage it provided Pontypool.

A few minutes later on 59 minutes, prop Dylan Cooper was replaced by young Bradley Davies.

The referee gave a penalty, Pooler kicked to touch. Pontypool took the lineout and yet again set up a maul, which the Otters were unable to halt and, as Pooler crossed the line, fly-half Mathew Jones dropped on the ball for a try. He failed to convert, but it gave Pontypool 11-10 lead.

Narberth kicked out and managed to gain the ball and via several phases moved forward before Ianto Griffiths kicked the ball into touch near the Pontypool 22. Once again from the lineout, Pooler used the maul to move forward, but were penalised for an infringement on 65 minutes. Nick Gale stepped up and made no mistake with the sub sequent kick to regain the lead at 13-11.

Thereafter, the Otters attempted to keep Pooler in their own half, but slowly the visitors’ pressure built up and an adjudged high tackle gave the opportunity for Mathew Jones to kick to the grandstand corner.

The Otters managed to hold and repell the subsequent maul, with the referee adjudging a Pontypool infringement. The Otters held the scrum, heeled, with Ianto Griffiths being able to put in a relieving kick. Unfortunately, from the subsequent lineout, on the grandstand side, Pooler mauled forward, released the ball and this time spread it wide, where the brave Otters defence, with only 14 men, ran out of numbers, allowing winger Aaron Quick to score and Mathew Jones to convert, bringing the score at 74 minutes to 18-13.

Captain Alex Jenkins then received a ‘stinger’ on his arm and had to leave the field in pain. Centre/wing Joel Hutchings was brought on to replace his carded brother and young Lewys Gibby to replace Rhys Lane.

The Otters managed to hold out for the remaining minutes and when the referee blew time, had to settle for a losing bonus point, which keeps them in second place in the league table.

Disappointingly, Pontypool seemed to have a gamesmanship strategy where potential cards were a possibility and, as Mathew Jones admitted afterwards, they had to resort to rolling mauls, which was the only way forward against the Otters’ defence. This is a ploy well used in the eastern valleys of South Wales.

Unfortunately for the Otters, Lady Luck deserted them when they most needed it. They had given their all and were clearly very disappointed at the way events turned.

Later, Liam Gadd, the threequarters coach, stated how proud he was of the squad.

“From 1 to 20, they gave their all,” he said. “Unfortunately, we came up short on half chances. We were close, but not close enough. The lads played for each other. There were times when we came under pressure and we dug deep and they had to resort to the maul. There were a few times when there were dubious circumstances, but they played to their strengths and did well. We will set new goals to finish second in the league and remain unbeaten. We have the squad to do it.”

The sponsors’ man-of-the-match was flanker Sean Jenkins, selected by ex-international Dafydd James on behalf of the sponsors.

Narberth fielded: James Stephenson, Nick Gale, Jack Price, Ollie Reyland, Liam Hutchings (Joel Hutchings), Ianto Griffiths, Rhys Lane (Lewys Gibby), Dylan Cooper (Bradley Davies), Dan Smith, Justin Hughes (Tom Slater), Jake Simm, Alex Jenkins (capt.), James Bain (Pat Roberts), Sean Jenkins, Steffan Phillips.