Narberth 39 pts

Tata Steel 17

Despite overnight rain, the Lewis Lloyd ground looked in good condition for this clash for second place in the WRU Championship league.

Before the game, the Otters had slipped down the table to fourth position as a result of last week’s results

The Narberth team saw one change, with senior scrum-half Rhys Lane, returning from injury, playing on the wing due to injuries to several wingers.

In the previous fixture between the two sides at Margam earlier in the season, the Otters had won a very closely contested game 35-31.

The Otters kicked-off and within a minute Tata Steel were penalised just inside their half. Ianto Griffiths stepped up and kicked a fine penalty to givehis side an early three-point lead.

For many minutes, the referee was busy with his whistle, blowing up five times for breakdown infringements by both teams. From one of these, fly-half Narberth Jonathan Rogers kicked to touch, Winning the lineout, the Otters moved left and were held, but successfully gained possession at the ruck and switched direction, where, after a few phases, the ball was moved quickly to wing Nick Gale, who raced up the far side to touch down near the corner. Ianto Griffiths kicked a fine conversion, to give Narberth a 10-0 lead.

Play continued and Jonathan Rogers had obviously been instructed to kick high and long, trying to unsettle the Tata Steel defence.

The Otters pack were driving forward, but Tata Steel managed to regain the ball and return to the Otters half. Showing a clean pair of heels, centre Keiran Jones managed to break through and race towards the line, only to be pulled down a few metres short. Literally from this situation, the crowd witnessed a series of set-pieces, with the referee having to reset the scrum several times, with the Otters pack in the ascendancy

During this period, Tata Steel lost two players for infringements around the scrum, with the referee having to issue yellow cards..

Eventually the Otters were then able to gain a pushover try, with young scrum-half Lewys Gibby diving on the ball as it left Steffan Phillips’ feet as the scrum crossed the line. Again Ianto Griffiths added the points, bringing the score to 17-0.

The Otters’ back row then took over, making progress up field with their strong drives. After five minutes, the Otters, this time from a lineout, set up a rolling maul and, with a few backs joining in the rumble to the line, Jonathan Rogers eventually dropped on the ball to claim the try. Ianto Griffiths again kicked the conversion on 31 minutes, making the score 24 -0.

Restored to a full complement, Tata Steel began to fight back. Unfortunately, in one of the breakdown exchanges, Narberth hooker Dan Smith suffered a deep cut on his chin and had to withdraw, with Rhodri Owen taking his place.

Just before the interval, Tata Steel reduced the lead with a try by wing Steffan Stone, which came from a defensive error by the Otters. Fly-half Callum Bricknell failed with the conversion, leaving the half-time score at 24 -5.

A feature in the first half was the strong kicking of Jonathan Rogers, pinning Tata Steel in their half on several occasions.

During the half-time break, Otter supporters were cautious of forecasting the final result, having experience of past games, particularly against Tata Steel.

The first thing that supporters noticed when the second half started was that Tata Steel had withdrawn one of their props and, seemingly not having a replacement, requested uncontested scrums. This was greeted with derision from home supporters as they recognised the probable tactical ploy to remove the Otters’ scrummaging advantage.

Within five minutes, the Steelmen had scored a try. From an uncontested scrum, they were in attack mode advancing forward and via a missed tackle, winger Steffan Stone crossed the line, with fly-half Callum Bricknell converting.

Narberth decided to give tighthead prop Tom Slater a rest and brought on Tom Kajaks. Three minutes later, they scored their bonus point try. Having lost the scrum advantage, they set up a rolling maul from midfield, pushing Tata Steel backwards before releasing the threequarters, with centre Keiran Jones breaking through the defence and sending Rhys Lane over for the score. Again Ianto Griffiths added the extras with the conversion.

The Otters then withdrew second row Jake Simm, replacing him with Dewi Williams.

Tata Steel responded and during an attack close to the Otters’ try line, Ianto Griffiths was sent to the sin bin, having tripped an opposing player.

Tata Steel called for a scrum in front of the posts and on releasing the ball failed to make progress, but the Otters were adjudged to have transgressed. This time the Steelmen chose to kick into touch.

The Otters made a tactical switch, with Rhys Lane moving to scrum-half, Lewys Gibby being withdrawn and Keiran Griffiths taking over the wing position.

From the lineout, Tata Steel forced their way over the line for captain Scott Malone to score an unconverted try on 55 minutes. The score was now 31-17.

From the restart, Rogers kicked high and long, causing the opposition to fumble the catch. At the scrum, the Otters heeled and set up another promising attack, which faltered when the ball was misfielded and ended up in touch.

On 66 minutes, the Otters went further ahead when a high tackle resulted in the refreshed Ianto Griffiths kicking the penalty.

With score now 34-17, Jonathan Rogers was withdrawn and replaced by James Stephenson.

Play continued and from within the opposition half, the Otters pounced on a loose ball and, working together, moved forward before releasing Nick Gale, who scored the final try far out, with Ianto Griffiths just failing to convert.

For the final 10 minutes of the game, Tata Steel attacked the Narberth line almost continuously, but the Otters showed great team spirit in keeping them at bay and denied them a bonus try, which would have tied them in the league alongside Narberth.

The whistle finally blew with the score at 39-17, a convincing result which puts Narberth a point ahead of Tata Steel and in second place in the league.

This was a very different game to the previous week. Jonathan Rogers played a major part through his kicking prowess, varying the kicks as the situation demanded. The back row worked hard against strong opposition, who had some hefty forwards and who attempted to force their way over the gain line.

Later, director of rugby, Sean Gale, commented: “We are playing well at home. I am very pleased with the way we are at the moment. Our pack was good, as it was against Pontypool, the back row were excellent, our set-piece was great, our two props this year, Bradley Davies and Tom Slater, have been superb. Nick Gale scored a couple of good tries, Jonathan Rogers kicked well and Lewys Gibby is coming along.

“We are in a fine position and hopefully we can finish off the season against Skewen next Saturday.”

Narberth fielded: Ianto Griffiths, Nick Gale, Keiron Jones, Paul Davies, Rhys Lane (Keiran Griffiths), Jonathan Rogers (James Stephenson), Lewys Gibby, Bradley Davies, Dan Smith (Rhodri Owens), Tom Slater (Tom Kajaks, Jake Simm (Dewi Williams), Alex Jenkins (capt.), Richard Rees, Tom Powell, Steffan Phillips.