Otters march on in the cup (From Western Telegraph)

Otters march on in the cup

Narberth 27 Merthyr 5

Narberth marched into the last 16 of the Principality Cup as they beat Merthyr quite comfortably to confirm their current pedigree.

They scored four tries to their opponents one and gaining their second win of their cup campaign over a first division club to show that, if they can win promotion and retain this squad, they can hold their own at such a high level.

The Otters were 8-5 ahead at the break and having to face the breeze after the break but with two tries from winger John Whitticombe and another from diminutive full back Aled Davies they found themselves paired with Caerphilly in the next round - and with home advantage against the Premier Division Club!

It was Chris MacDonald who started Narberth on the road to success with an early try, the doughty scrum half showing his effectiveness as he received a flipped pass from Gareth Bennett at the base of a scrum and was over in the corner before the Merthyr back row could move.

Merthyr levelled matters at 5-5 when fly half Stuart Davies put in an innocuous little chip ahead that saw Aled Davies make a rare error at full back and Stuart Davies was able to regather and cross for a soft try.

Narberth maintained their form however, and went close from a Simon Daniel penalty which was sliced wide from almost in front of the posts and a run by centre Tevita Manaseitava which was halted in the right hand corner.

Aled Davies took over the kicking duties and slotted a penalty to give Narberth a narrow three-point lead which might have been more but dynamic lock Emori Katelau was also hauled down in the corner after an exciting run up the stand-side touchline.

Narberth played well after the break and Alan Reynolds was brought on after ten minutes, using his vast experience to good effect in the close exchanges as he linked well with fellow back row men Bennett and skipper Simon Davies, plus the ubiquitous MacDonald.

It forced Merthyr to take chances and they paid the price from broken play when Jason Jennings supported Bennett on a charge and found Andrew Jones, who slipped the scoring pass to Whitticombe, who had come over from his own wing position to score in the other corner, doing really well to reach the line under pressure.

It was a morale-booster for the Otters, who added another try after Andrew Bowen was launched on a typical charge up the middle, taking out three would-be tacklers before Aled Davies joined the attack and cut through for a good try which he also converted.

Canny coach Keith Eaton brought on fresh legs in prop Dai Balkwill and hooker Kevin Davies and another move initiated by MacDonald saw locks Emori Katelau and Jason Jennings combining in a way that many back row men would envy before Whitticombe was again the finisher and Aled Davies converted.

With the game won, all the other Narberth replacements were given a run out and although they were unable to add to their tally there was no doubt that the Otters were good value for their latest success and it is Caerphilly who are next to receive a warm welcome at the Lewis Lloyd Ground, both on and off the field.

Narberth: Aled Davies: John Whitticombe; Tevita Manaseitava (Wayne Jones); Andrew Bowen; Andrew Jones: Simon Daniel; Chris MacDonald: Fifitapuku Faletau (Dai Balkwill); Simon Delaney (Kevin Davies); Rob Jones (Alan Phillips): Emori Faletau; Jason Jennings (Jamie Bohata): Meurig Daniel (Alan Reynolds); Simon Davies (John Bowen); Gareth Bennett.