Newcomers to the Championship League, Ystalyfera were making their first visit to the Lewis Lloyd Ground. For their player coach Gareth James, it was a return, having played with the club for three seasons from 2002 - 2005. Gareth went on to play for Neath, Llandovery and Ebbw Vale, but returned to his home club Ystalyfera to guide them through the WRU leagues to arrive close season to the Championship.

Watching the game was Gareth’s scrum-half partner at that time Adrian Killa, a past great favourite with the club’s supporters.

Before the game, a minute’s silence was held in respected memory of former Narberth player Richard Lewis, whose brother is the current vice-chairman of the club.

Following the difficult game of the previous week, the Otters received welcoming news when they were informed by the WRU Disciplinary Committee that the red card received by centre Joe Hutchings had been rescinded.

A few changes were made to the starting line-up, with Ianto Griffiths replacing Jonathan Rogers at fly-half, Josh Davies moving into the centre and Elliott Dawe returning to the left wing.

Despite the several days of rain and early heavy showers, the pitch was in a surprisingly good condition, as the Otters kicked off downfield with an icy wind behind their backs.

Both teams started strongly, with the Otters being penalised at the breakdowns. However, after four minutes, at an Ysralyfera lineout, the ball went loose, the Otters took advantage and were quickly brought to ground on the visitors’ 22, Ystalfera from the ruck kicked long towards the stand side, well into the Otters half, where Nick Gale fielded, raced forward linking to the touchline side with wing Dafydd Pritchard, who sped forward before passing inside to number eight Roy Osbourne, who raced from the visitors’ 22 to score the first try. Despite the strong wind, Nick Gale added further points with his conversion.

Home supporters were becoming irritated by the number of occasions the referee penalised the Otters at the rucks. Then halfway through the half, Ystalyfera suffered a yellow card.

At the scrums, the Otters’ pack power began to tell. This gave Roy Osbourne opportunity to pick and drive forward or link with Rhys Lane.

On 25 minutes, Ystalyfera suffered the wrath of the referee regarding a scrummage on their 22. Ianto Griffiths, taking the penalty kick, placed the ball into touch at the corner. From the lineout, Alex Jenkins set up a rolling maul and the pack crossed the try line, with Roy Osbourne again touching down. Again Nick Gale converted, giving the Otters a 14-0 lead.

The game restarted, with the Otters being penalised at the breakdown. Gareth James came forward, but failed to find the posts with his penalty kick. The visitors’ pack was quite strong and stuck to their task and were effective with their counter-rucking, but equally the Otters’ defensive system was strong and able to stop the Ystalyfera attacks.

During this period, Roy Osbourne and Ianto Griffiths produced some strong running, crossing the gain line. The Otters front row were also prominent in the exchanges. The Otters moved downfield and into the visitors’ 22. The visitors were then penalised at consecutive lineouts. The Otters were awarded a penalty on the second occasion and chose to scrummage and heeled, but were quickly brought dow,n with Ystalyfera being penalised in front of the posts. Nick Gale quickly slotted the penalty between the posts.

From the restart, Rhys Lane gathered the ball and put in a kick towards the corner. At the visitors lineout, in front of the stand, they seemed to get their signals wrong, with the ball being knocked into touch. The referee mystified those in the stand by awarding the lineout to Ystalyfera. They threw long in the lineout, enabling Richie Rees at the back to gather and feed Rhys Lane. The Otters quickly moved the ball across for inside centre Joe Hutchings to spot a gap and to race 30 metres to score under the posts, with Nick Gale converting on 40 minutes.

Five minutes injury time was played. From the restart, both sides contested for the ball vigorously, with the visitors being penalised at the ruck, enabling Nick Gale to slot over the penalty, bringing the score to a half-time lead of 27-0.

The sky darkened and floodlights were needed.

Within three minutes of the restart, visiting scrum-half Zac Beynon suffered the wrath of the referee, being sent to the sin bin with a yellow card.

Two minutes later, on 45 minutes, the Otters scored their bonus point try. Now playing up field into the icy wind, the penalty kick took them forward, collecting the ball they won the ruck at the breakdown, Rhys Lane fed his threes, with Nick Gale passing inside to flanker Tom Powell, who raced over for a try converted by Nick Gale.

Ystalyfera replaced inside centre Ryan James with Luc Caines, followed by two forward replacements. The fresh legs gave the visitors more vigour in the exchanges, with the Otters holding firm.

Then they broke out with a kick ahead, but were penalised for a knock-on when challenging Ystalyfera.

The Otters made a change, withdrawing Dafydd Pritchard, with Jonathan Rogers as his replacement. He moved to fly-half, with Ianto Griffiths moving to the wing.

The Otters were now using the rolling maul to good effect. They continued to dominate and the next move halted when the ball was knocked forward.

On 62 minutes, Dan Jacobs replaced the hard-working Bradley Davies and Dewi Williams replaced Alex Jenkins, followed a few minutes later with Dan Smith replacing Rhodri Owen and Lewys Gibby replacing Rhys Lane.

Then at a ruck, Jonathan Rogers was sent to the sin bin.

The visitors were beginning to look to upset the Otters with unnecessary foul play. Then on 75 minutes the referee gave Gareth James his first red card at the Lewis Lloyd ground and at the same time showed Dewi Williams a yellow card,

The Otters were now down to 13 men, with Ystalyfera with 14.

The rain which had persisted all second half began increasing in intensity.

From the red card incident at the breakdown, the Otters chose a scrum. On heeling, Lewys Gibby fed Joe Hutchings, who evaded the defence to score his second try, with Nick Gale converting. The score was now 39-0.

Despite the intense weather conditions, play continued and the Otters chose to use their football skills to move upfield, before Lewys Gibby picked up. Speeding to within 10 metres of the line, when challenged he passed out to the supporting Roy Osborne who crossed for his third try, bringing the final score to 44- 0.

This was an excellent performance by the Otter. Roy Osborne was outstanding with his overall play and Joe Hutchings will be feeling much happier after scoring twice following the previous week’s incident. The Otters really played as a team, showing they had regained their mojo.

After the game, director of rugby, Sean Gale, commented: “After a couple of disappointing weeks, particularly the way we folded against Beddau was hard to take, but the good thing was our set-piece was excellent, our attacking play was very good for the first 35 minutes and so what we worked on were three main areas where we were weak last week. We asked a few questions of ourselves this week, we were quite honest and it turned out that the boys’ attitude was superb. To hold Ystylyfera to nil points was very good. They came down after a good performance against Neath and I thought we really put them to the sword.?With the weather conditions as well, I thought we played absolute fantastic rugby, our set-piece was again dominant, our turnover ball was very good. It was a lovely Christmas present for me. The boys were excellent. I thought Joe Hutchings was excellent, Roy Osbourne carried particularly well. The centre partnership of Josh Davies and Joe Hutchings worked quite well, but we have got to keep our feet on the ground and we have to play like that every week. That is the challenge, we are in a very difficult league, our next game is to go up to the Knoll, so it will be a big ask, but in all fairness, it was a fantastic Christmas present and I am a happy man tonight.”

The sponsors man of the match was Roy Osbourne.

Narberth: Nick Gale, Elliot Dawe ,Josh Davies, Joe Hutchings, Dafydd Pritchard, Ianto Griffiths, Rhys lane, Bradley Davies, Rhodri Owen, Tom Slater, Jake Baker, Alex Jenkins, Richie Rees (Capt), Tom Powell, Roy Osbourne. Substitutes were Dan Smith, Dan Jacobs, Dewi Williams, Jonathan Rogers, Lewys Gibby.