Aled boosts Narberth points tally (From Western Telegraph)

Aled boosts Narberth points tally

Narberth 39 Maesteg 28

Two second half tries by full back Aled Davies helped Narberth maintain their unbeaten start to the season in a high-scoring tussle with Maesteg.

The Otters raced into a deserved 22-5 lead with some enterprising stuff but conceded points either side of the interval before reasserting themselves with young Davies always involved with his support play.

Maesteg used their big pack to grab two late scores that made the final tally seem closer - but the Otters always held the upper hand overall and were good value for their 100%, record under new coach Keith Eaton.

The margin might have been even wider had Narberths enterprise been matched by their handling because the Otters had others chances where passes were spilled after they had taken the lead with a ninth minute try that had an air of good fortune about it.

Maesteg tried to run the ball out of their own half and the ball was spilled, allowing Simon Daniel and Gareth Bennett to send centre Wil Morgan in for a soft unconverted try.

The Otters conceded a silly penalty to gift Maesteg kicker Matthew Pearce with his first three points but Narberth responded almost from the kick off as Alan Reynolds won the ball and play was spread wide.

Winger Andrew George was knocked flat in a tackle but did well to recycle it and after Bennett had sent left winger Andrew Jones on a mazy run it was George who picked himself up when play was spread right to score a fine try which Daniels converted with a wobbly kick.

Maestegs response was a snap drop goal attempt by Pearce which went woefully wide and the Otters swept back upfield to score their third try as Aled Davies took a clean catch, as he did all afternoon at full back, and sent Andrew Jones on another good run.

Again the winger made the ball available and livewire young skipper Jason Jennings was on hand to make the ball available so that lock colleague Emori Katalau could pop up in the centre to score a try which Daniel again converted to go with a penalty soon afterwards.

Referee Huw Williams played a lot of time added on and right on the interval Maesteg scored their first try when the Otters fell asleep on their right flank and Old Parish winger Neil Dixon showed good pace on an unopposed run to the line for Pearce to convert.

Pearce and Daniels exchanged penalties after the interval, with Pearce also rapping the post and landing another big kick to haul his team back to a 25-15 deficit from which they forced Narberth to soak up some pressure in which they might have scored but for sound Otters defence.

And then Aled Davies struck twice to show that he can attack as well as defend bravely, starting a move with a catch of a high ball near his own 22 and launching a counter where Gareth Bennett, Jones, replacement prop Puku Faletau and John Bowen were involved before Aled Davies appeared in the line to score a try which Daniels converted.

Davies added his second try three minutes later to kill off lingering Maesteg hopes, this time wide on the left as Simon Jones was again the provider of the final pass, Daniels landing the extras from the touchline.

Maesteg battled hard in the closing stages and claimed two forward-orientated tries by replacement Colin Lewis but Narberth were never really likely to surrender such a big lead and now they travel to Beddau this Saturday in their quest for three more league points Simon Daniels was chosen as man of the match by sponsor Vincent Jones, the former Narberth player now living in Llanelli who had former Welsh internationals Ken Jones and Roy Bergiers as his guests.

The ball sponsors were Cozyn Warm together with MJ Kennard and Son, Colin Soar (Kilgetty), Heather and John Howell (Narberth).

Narberth: Aled Davies: Andrew George; Andrew Bowen; Wil Morgan; Andrew Jones: Simon Daniel; Lloyd Thomas; Chris Flattery; Kevin Davies; Alan Phillips: Jason Jennings; Emori Katalau: Alan Reynolds; John Bowen; Gareth Bennett. Replacements: Fifitapuku Faletau; Chris MacDonald; Meurig Daniel; Dai Balkwill.

PICTURE: Aled Davies crosses for a try.