Narberth 5 Aberavon 19

Narberths new coach Keith Eaton took the chance to blood many of the new players who have flocked to the Lewis Lloyd Ground for the new season in Division Two - and there were several promising displays to interest the Narberth faithful huddled in the stand as very unseasonal drizzle meant that the ball was greasy and there were errors aplenty.

The Wizards, who finished top of Division One last season and are still in dispute with the WRU over their right to join the top echelon, brought a very strong squad and a big pack in which No 8 Richard Morris, hooker Jim Hyett and lock Merve Meredith caught the eye - and were 19 points ahead in as many minutes before The Otters dug in and made sure there was no further scoring before Alan Reynolds joined the fray in the final third of the game and scored a try.

The Otters had Oliver Brace (ex-Tenby) and Simon Daniels (ex-Dunvant) at half back with a new centre pairing in Greg England and Danny Field, with wingers Andrew Jones (ex-Llanelli) and Emyr Davies on the wings as Andrew George returned at full back - so it was perhaps inevitable that they took some time to settle in the first of the three 30-minute sections in which Nigel Owen took charge of affairs.

Aberavon opened their account through No 8 Richard Morris from a push-over attempt and he added a second as he popped up on the wing after good work by centre Paul Morgan and flanker Andrew Thomas, both well known in this county for their respective playing periods with Whitland and Tenby.

The first was converted by fly half Tom Price, whose trusty left boot also added the extras when centre Neil Lewis sliced through for The Wizards third try.

Good work by Gareth Bennett, Alan Phillips, Chris Flattery, Nick Roach and John Bowen helped The Otters steady things up and in the second segment of play they also introduced burly front row man Fifitapuku Faletau, the Tongan international making his presence felt with a crashing tackle that has already made him a favourite with the Narberth crowd!

Also joining the fray were John Whitticombe, back in action for the club, Andrew Bowen, who looked really strong in the centre, scrum half Gethin Jones, centre Will Morgan (ex-Dunvant), Meurig Daniel, Rob Jones and Alan Reynolds, who quickly added a sense of organisation to affairs as he rounded off some good handling by forwards and backs.

Narberth: Andrew George: Emyr Davies; Greg England; Danny Field; Andrew Jones: Simon Daniels; Oliver Brace: Chris Flattery; Kevin Davies; Alan Phillips: Conrad Rees; Jason Jennings: Nick Roach; John Bowen; Gareth Bennett.

Replacements: John Whitticombe; Rob Jones; Gethin Rees; Fifitapuku Faletau; Meurig Daniel; Andrew Bowen; Will Morgan; Wayne Jones; Alan Reynolds.