Otters let win slip away (From Western Telegraph)

Otters let win slip away

12:00pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in Sport

Narberth 30

Newbridge 31

Narberth conspired to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they conceded a 24-point interval advantage to lose by a single point at home against Newbridge.

As a result, the visitors still sit proudly at the top of the table with a 100% record from three matches.

The Otters were gradually overhauled as they conceded three tries in the time that the opposition were reduced to 14 men, and the Gwent side finally snatched the initiative with a fourth try when flanker Craig Hill grabbed his second score and Neil Burnett converted.

Even then Narberth had a chance to snatch the verdict with a late penalty but with the in-form James Russell off the pitch it was left to Stuart Morris to seek the three points, but his kick under pressure sailed wide of the mark.

Left winger Russell had made a big impact in the first period as he slotted a penalty and then converted all three of them, two of which he scored himself as flanker Gareth Bateman also crossed the line.

At 24-0 it seemed odds-on a Narberth win, especially when Newbridge had a player shown a yellow card.

But during the time that they were a man short they actually grabbed tries by wing Gareth Jones, prop Geoff Lewin and flanker Hill, all of which were converted by Burnett.

Russell landed two penalties to take his personal tally to 25 points before he retired hurt and then Hill scored again and Burnett notched the conversion to send the Otters tumbling to defeat in a match they really should have won.

Narberth: Johnny Morgan, Will Lewis, Steve Martin (capt), Richard Davies, James Russell, Stuart Morris, Jarred Bayliss, Sean Lloyd, Dan Smith, Steffan Jones, Gyles Vaughan, Alex Jenkins, Lawrence Reynolds, Wayne Williams, Gareth Bateman.

Replacements: Tom Bonnell, Chris James, Steffan Phillips, Adrian Killa, Tom Slater.