Narberth holt losing streak (From Western Telegraph)

Narberth holt losing streak

Narberth 37 Llanharan 15 Narberth bounced back from a string of disappointing results as they outlasted a Llanharan side which started well in both halves - The Otters overturning a 15-13 deficit after one minute of the second half to add a further four tries without response as reward for generally taking control in the loose and looking hungrier for a result despite the loss of points ace Simon Daniel after 36 minutes.

His place at fly half was taken by Gareth James and the youngster linked well with scrum half Chris MacDonald, who scored the Otters' only first half try and generally featured in all that Narberth did, alongside centres Elgan Vittle and Andrew Bowen.

But it was Llanharan who made the more positive start as centre Paul Morgan gave them the third-minute lead with a well-struck penalty, although the ex-Whitland centre missed from the same spot two minutes later and was also off the mark when livewire flanker Andrew Keischer forced his way over after winger Richard Radford had sped out of his own 22 through three weak tackles.

Wayne Jones covered well to halt Radford but Kreischer was quickly up in support.

Daniel missed a penalty attempt for Narberth but made amends with an easier kick after 16 minutes, adding another three points just before he left the field injured.

Home skipper Simon Davies caught the eye with a superb tackle and his play seemed to lift the rest of his pack as John Bowen showed he has a part to play in the Narberth back row - and Craig Hawkins, Rob Jones and Andrew Howell made bursts alongside Gareth Bennett, who set winger Nick Jones on a run which was halted in the visitors' 22.

But The Otters sustained the pressure and a good lineout take by Jason Jennings allowed Chris MacDonald a little space and the abrasive scrum half was able to just reach the line for a try which James converted with the last kick of the half.

Narberth were caught cold at the resumption as nippy Llanharan scrum half Jonathan Hooper slipped the ball flat for full back Anthony Carter to race unopposed to the posts for Morgan to convert.

But The Dairymen lost captain Colin Malone, who had raised the ire of the home crowd, finally stretching referee Richard Hughes' patience after blocking a ball on the ground - and in his ten minutes off the field The Otters scored 12 points.

It was James who crossed for The Otters first try of the second period with a superb solo effort as he jinked away from a scrum to score at the posts and add the conversion.

The next Narberth try was another cracker as the ubiquitous MacDonald stole away at a tap penalty and Elgan Vittle maintained the momentum alongside Daniel Gravell, Rob Jones and Jamie Bohata before winger Nick Jones was given enough space to score an unconverted try.

Both sides made a number of changes as the pace was maintained but The Dairymen saw a penalty wasted by Morgan before Andrew Howell crashed over for Narberth after appearing on the right wing in a move that lasted through several phases before a long pass by MacDonald allowed Gravell to supply Howell with the final pass.

Narberth scored again almost from the kick-off when Vittle again sliced through and Matthew Evans did well to get up in support to set up a ruck from which Hawkins burrowed over for a try which James gaoled.

Llanharan tried desperately to make the score a little more respectable but The Otters' defence was equal to the task and their vociferous supporters again had something to cheer, as the smiles on the faces of coaches Keith Eaton and Rob Phillips showed how relieved they were after breaking their run of five successive defeats!

There were three special presentations during the afternoon, the first at half time when Jeff Morgan, the treasurer of the Narberth Supporters Club, presented a cheque for £2,000 to club chairman John Williams, the proceeds of the weekly meat draw and the match-day raffles.

Then after the match the Supporters' Club presented gifts to No 8 Gareth Bennett, who had played his 100th league game for The Otters at Pontypool, and Jamie Bohata, playing his 100th game in this fixture.

The Narberth sponsors were Octopus UK Ltd, Morfa Bay Outdoor Pursuits Centre, Pendine; Narberth Glass, Narberth. The Narberth team sponsors were the Narberth Barmy Army and the match balls were sponsored by T. Allen Lewis, Henllan Amgoed; KP Thomas and Son, Templeton.