Off-key Otters disappoint at home (From Western Telegraph)

Off-key Otters disappoint at home

National League Division One Narberth 19 Llangennech 35 Narberth chose the visit of Llangennech to produce one of their poorer displays of the campaign as the visitors to the Lewis Lloyd Ground generally looked sharper in most departments for all but the period before and after the interval, where Narberth fought back from a 12-6 deficit to be level at the break and move into a 19-12 advantage.

But then Llangennech seemed able to move up a gear as their pack won possession for their innovative backs to use as they contributed another 23 points without response in the final quarter to draw level with Whitland in fourth place and stand just three points behind the Otters in the section table.

Yet the Otters started well as full back Gareth James landed a first-minute penalty as their pack looked sharp with Adrian Killa snapping at their heels. But they lost seven points as they tried to attack again in the seventh minute when a long pass intended for Andrew Bowen was intercepted by his opposite number and namesake Mark Bowen, who raced to the posts for fly half Matthew Jones to add the easy extras.

Another Gareth James' penalty hauled the Otters back to within a point, only for another try to be gifted to the opposition, when an attempted clearance failed to find touch and Llangennech countered via full back Paul Bamsey and Paul Davies before quickly rucked ball allowed play to be switched by scrum half Chris Davies, so that an overlap was created for winger Brad Kearsted to speed over in the corner.

With Simon Daniel having to leave the pitch, Narberth moved Gareth James to fly half and brought on Nick Jones at full back before they hauled themselves back level as good work up front by Craig Hawkins, Alan Phillips, Gareth Bennett and Emori Katalau earned a brace of penalties which James slotted to make the score 12-apiece at the interval. Llangennech had flanker Simon Peters yellow-carded and the Otters took the lead for the first time with a good try from a ruck where Katilimoni Tuipulotu peeled away and powered through to the posts so that James could convert.

But this score seemed to sting Llangennech into raising the tempo as they levelled matters from a quick tap penalty where skipper Chris Davies, sliced through for an opportunist try which Mark Jones converted.

The visitors almost scored again from a tap penalty where centre Paul Davies went close to the line before he was held up on the line - but they took a lead they weren't to relinquish again as Mark Jones notched a 62nd penalty.

Narberth made another basic error five minutes later when they lost the ball at a defensive scrum five in the clubhouse corner which allowed Llangennech to sweep play right so that Mark Bowen could claim his second try at the posts, Jones landing the conversion.

Narberth countered with a storming move involving Nick Jones, Elgan Vittle, James and Andrew Bowen, but his powerful burst was held up and although Kati and Senio Aenio went close from the ensuing ruck, another long pass was intercepted near his own line by Paul Davies, who kicked clear and took play back into the home 22. It was a body blow for the Otters and although they made several changes it was Llangennech who finished the stronger as mark Jones snapped a drop goal and landed a last-minute penalty to ease the visitors to a deserved success - and leave the Otters with something to think about after a low-key display.

The Narberth match sponsors were the Jeffreyton Inn and Cefnogwyr Clunderwen, with the Friends of the late Roy Brown as the team sponsors. The match balls were sponsored by John, Heather and Jordan Howell; Chris Viggers; the Narberth Former Players Association.

Narberth: Gareth James: Andrew Jones; Andrew Bowen; Elgan Vittle; Daniel Gravell: Simon Daniel (Nick Jones); Adrian Killa (Gary Nicholas): Fifitapuku Faletau (Barry Davies); Craig Hawkins (Simon Delaney); Alan Phillips: Emori Katalau; Dai Ebsworth (Jason Jennings): Katilimoni Tuipulotu (Dafydd Bowen); Matthew Evans; Gareth Bennett (Senio Aenio).