Narberth let lead slip (From Western Telegraph)

Narberth let lead slip

Brynmawr 17 Narberth 17

Narberth had to leave the championship champagne on hold as they were held to a draw against a Brynmawr side that is the bottom four but fought like tigers to overcome a 17-point interval lead held by the Otters, who were weakened, squad-wise, by weddings and injury - so perhaps the point was one gained, rather than two lost for both sides.

What is certain is that the Otters will look back on missed chances at the death which would have given them another away win.

Aled Davies, took over the kicking duties from the injured Simon Daniel and missed two relatively easy penalties and then Elgan Vittle made a superb break, only for the final pass to a lurking Andrew Jones to be delayed so that Vittle was caught by the cover.

Both sides also had early chances as Phil Withers was off-target with a penalty and drop goal for Brynmawr and Simon Daniel missed a penalty for Narberth, who finally took the lead after 31 minutes when good lineout ball won by Emori Katelau allowed prop Puku to charge through and create a gap for Vittle to race for a try which Daniel converted before notching a penalty soon afterwards.

Daniel added a further seven points to the Otters tally on the break as he broke through to the posts after more good work from Kaletau and Jamie Bohata, adding the conversion but missing a late penalty which left the Otters 17-0 up at half time.

The interval certainly came at the wrong time for Narberth because their purple patch was halted in the very first minute after the restart when they lost possession and home second row Rhys Bowen ploughed over, Withers adding the extras, as he did when winger Richard Nicklin intercepted and grabbed a soft try despite having prop Steve Coles sin-binned.

Narberth made several changes and had their chances to make the game safe - but their failure to do so was punished when Withers landed a late penalty and now the Otters must keep the champagne on ice until they entertain Oakdale this Saturday!

Narberth: Aled Davies: John Whitticombe; Elgan Vittle; Andrew Bowen; Andrew Jones: Simon Daniel; Ryan Williams: Fifitapuku Faletau; Dewi Williams; Alan Phillips: Jamie Bohata; Emori Katelau: Alan Reynolds; John Bowen; Gareth Bennett. Replacements: Matthew Evans; Rob Jones; Tevita Manaseitava; Dai Balkwill.