Otters back to winning ways

After defeat in their previous two games Narberth returned to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Llantrisant which saw the Otters try to run the ball from first to last, applying such pressure on the Llan defence that the Otters scored seven tries - and might have had several more as reward for their innovative and thrustful approach under coach Keith Eaton.

The only black spot for Narberth was the dismissal of burly prop Fifitipuku Faletau, who had come on as replacement for Dai Balkwill after 22 minutes of the second half but was dismissed ten minutes later by referee Huw Rees. Puku was clearly incensed by some front row skulduggery and might consider himself unlucky because although he threw a punch it didnt make contact and he was the victim of a blow himself before he reacted.

Narberth threw the ball about from the opening moments and although full back Aled Davies was off target with a third minute penalty he soon afterwards slotted a superb conversion of a try which stemmed from a superb run by lock Jamie Bohata which was continued by No 8 Gareth Bennett before centre Wil Morgan brushed off the last line of defence to score in the clubhouse corner.

Davies added a penalty and after Llan fly half Ian Jones had missed a kick from his teams first attack it was the Otters who grabbed their second try from a well-worked lineout move where Alan Reynolds acted as scrum half, took the good lineout ball won by Jason Kennings and set up the expected drive. But play was cleverly switched to half backs Lloyd Thomas and Simon Daniel, who spread play wide for Morgan to judge his angle nicely and cross at the posts for his second try, Davies again converting.

Although such an attacking policy inevitably meant that some passes went astray, Narberth had Andrew Bowen able to punch holes in the Llan midfield and pace on the outside - as they proved after 29 minuets when Whitticombe rounded off some quick handling with another clubhouse-corner try that went unconverted.

Llantrisant tried to battle it out well and elected to run a penalty in the shadow of the Narberth posts but when scrum half Ian Worgan fed Steve Facey the burly prop spilt the ball in a tackle from Alan Reynolds.

Narberth rounded off the first half scoring with the try of the match as they moved the ball under their own posts after a dive pass by Alan Reynolds at the ruck via Bowen, who put Whitticombe away on a weaving 60 metre run before transferring to Gareth Bennett and after Alan Phillips, Dai Balkwill and others had been involved, Daniel sent George scampering over on the right, Davies converting with another excellent kick.

Llantrisant introduced Matthew Newlands at the break and the flanker was soon involved as he scored a third minute try, converted by Jones, and was then yellow-carded for blocking the ball on the ground.

But Narberth were soon back on the offensive and good work by Bennett and Kennings allowed George to give Aled Davies the scoring pass, the full back also slotting the conversion attempt as a bonus.

Wil Morgan went close to a hat-trick but did well to slip the ball inside to skipper Simon Davies, making a welcome first appearance of the season, the flanker looking as if he had never been away and crashing over at the posts for Davies to convert.

Both teams made several changes but even after losing prop Puku, Narberth still held the edge and good work by Aled Davies allowed replacement flanker Meurig Daniel to cross for the final score of an entertaining match.

Alan Phillips was adjudged the man of the match and it was fitting reward for another wholehearted display by the former Fishguard prop, with Gareth Bennett, Aled Davies, plus second rows Jason Kennings and Jamie Bohata all pushing him close to the award - and with outside half Simon Daniel having a good game in terms of his line kicking and distribution the whole Narberth team showed that they are eager to play attacking rugby in the Otter cause.

The match was sponsored by The Otter Group, friends of Narberth RFC, with Pat and Midge Thomas, Family Butchers of Narberth, as the match ball sponsors.