Narberth 73 pts. Dunvant 17 - Saurday’s game was delayed by 30 minutes due to the Dunvant coach being held up by road resurfacing works taking place on the A40 in Carmarthenshire.

Prior to the game, a large number of guests joined the match and ball sponsors, along with a former players reunion and a reunion of the 1985-87 Youth team. The delay permitted them to enjoy their gatherings further, as they renewed memories of times past at the club.

The Otters rested both Ianto Griffiths and Ollie Reyland, with Jonathan Rogers and Joe Hutchings taking over.

The game started with Dunvant showing few signs of travel fatigue and after 10 minutes were 12-0 in the lead, with the Otters looking very sluggish. Remembering the game between the two earlier in the season, this was no surprise as in that one, Dunvant led 20-19 at half-time.

The first score came when Dunvant wing Mark Robbins touched down after outpacing the Otters’ threequarters, with fly-half Sam Evans adding further points with a successful conversion.

The fly-half scored the second try himself when he kicked ahead from the halfway line and following up, the ball bounced into his hands and he lost no time in racing through gaps in the Narberth defence to touch down near the clubhouse corner without a single Otter laying hands on him. This time he failed with the conversion.

At his stage, Otters supporters were wondering whether they were witnessing an off-day and where was the powerful defensive structure?

However, captain Alex Jenkins soon had the team focusing and four minutes later centre Jack Price scored the first of his six tries. This came from a lineout when a long throw was caught by flanker Sean Jenkins, who moved forward, before being tackled. From the ruck, prop Bradley Davies carried the ball on, before it came to Joe Hutchings, who fed co-centre Jack Price and, in his own inimitable fashion, he forced his way through the Dunvant tacklers to touch down for an unconverted try.

Dunvant responded strongly, but the Otters repelled their effort, with Lewys Gibby breaking clear and placing the ball inside the Dunvant 22.

A minute later, on 18 minutes, the Otters further reduced the deficit with yet another Jack Price try, with Jonathan Rogers failing to convert.

Both teams competed strongly, but slowly the Otters began to assert control. Their third try came from a clean lineout catch by Alex Jenkins, who fed Lewys Gibby and after an efficient pass to Jonathan Rogers, he used one of his long passes to feed Liam Hutchings, who used his natural ability to evade tacklers and broke clear to touch down under the posts, enabling Rogers to easily convert, giving the Otters a 17-12 lead after 25 minutes.

Dunvant made a determined attempt to reduce the deficit, with their fullback being brought into the attack and proving elusive.

Then Jack Price scored again when the Otters broke out of defence, with Liam Hutchings making ground before being brought down. The ball was rucked clear, enabling Lewys Gibby to feed Jonathan Rogers and, using another long pass, he released Price to score his third try in the corner, with Rogers producing an excellent kick for the conversion.

Three minutes later, just on half-time, Joe Hutchings scored the bonus point try in a move where lock Adam Clarke featured before being brought down and from the ruck, the ball was moved across field through the threes to centre Hutchings, who was able to break clear to touch down, with Jonathan Rogers again converting.

The referee blew for half-time with the Otters having a comfortable 31-12 lead.

During the interval, the Supporters Club, via their chairman, Martyn Phillips, presented the Rugby Club chairman, Dorian Phillips, with a magnificent cheque of £5,000. This was from the proceeds of the match day raffle and weekly meat draw.

Within a minute of the restart, Jack Price scored in the clubhouse corner, with the conversion again succeeding via the boot of Jonathan Rogers.

Dunvant attempted to outwit the Otters, with their fly-half putting in a crossfield kick to fullback Sam Hawkes, but the ball ended in touch.

Continuing to attack, they were rewarded with a score via flanker Adam Gregory, when using a rolling maul, they rumbled over the line. Sam Evans failed with the conversion, bringing the score to 38 -17.

At this point, Otters’ captain Alex Jenkins left the field to be replaced by Jake Simm, while Dunvant began to weaken, making several replacements to their tiring squad.

On 52 minutes, in another Otters attack, fullback James Stephenson joined the line and grub-kicked forward for the ball to pass over the deadball line. Literally from the resulting scrum, the ball reached Jack Price and once again he had little difficulty in crossing the line for his fifth try, with Jonathan Rogers converting.

This try had Narberth club members searching their memories and it was former winger John Widdicombe who had scored six tries in a game against Seven Sisters in the 2001/02 season.

The next player to come off the subs bench was Jack Parkinson who took his place in the centre, replacing Joe Hutchings.

The Otters continued to attack and on 59 minutes, from a lineout on the five-metre line, replacement flanker Dewi Williams took the bouncing ball and touched down, for Jonathan Rogers again to convert.

Two further replacements for the Otters were Ryan Rees for Tom Slater and Rhys Lane replacing Lewys Gibby.

There followed 10 minutes of Otters pressure, with five scrums on the five-metre line. It seemed that red mist had taken over when a further release would have seen the backs close, whereas the scrummaging ended with Dunvant clearing their line.

In the crowd, quips were being made referring to the scrum debacle in Paris the previous week.

Obviously sense took over and as the Otters regained possession, Dewi Williams scored his second try in the top far corner, with Rogers converting.

Then a minute later, Jack Price bagged his sixth try. The ball was collected on the Otters’ 22, with players supporting each other as the ball was passed along the line to Price, who outran the tiring Dunvant defenders to score under the posts. Again Jonathan Rogers converted.

On 80 minutes, Dunvant kicked out and the ball ended on the stand side, with young winger Gethin Gibby collecting it near the touchline. He ran out of his 22 and, showing a rare turn of speed, sprinted past the flailing arms of defenders to touch down midway between the clubhouse and the posts. Jonathan Rogers converted.

The referee blew full-time, with the Otters winning 73-17, a convincing victory, which has also probably now sealed Dunvant’s return to Division One West.

In the clubhouse, it was not long before choristers from Whitland and Dunvant sprang into song.

When the presentations were made, not surpringly, the man-of-the-match went to Jack Price.

There was also a cheque presentation to Jonathan Jones, who in February won first prize in the WRU Lottery. Anyone keen to participate in the WRU Lottery should contact Martin Lewis on 01834 891592.

Later, vice-chairman Robert Lewis commented: “We were caught a bit cold at the start and in fairness to Dunvant, they took their chances early, scored two very good tries and we were 12-nil down.

“In fairness to the players, though, they got stuck in and we proved to be too strong and fit for Dunvant. As the game proceeded, we got stronger and stronger and the gaps appeared.

“We have players who can take advantage. Jack Price had a field day and will be missed next season due to his transfer to Carmarthen Quins; he should prove an asset for them. Today, he had a very good game, though some of his six tries were simple run-ins. Jonathan Rogers varied the play at fly-half, Pat Roberts played well in the back row, Sean Jenkins tackled very well, Alex Jenkins had his usual good game until he came off and Jake Simm played well as a replacement.

“It was a little disappointing that in the last 15 minutes the play fell away. It always seems to happen with such a big score.

“Next week will be a contrast playing Tata Steel and we need to prove a point. This game has put us in a strong position to finish second behind Pontypool.”

Narberth fielded: James Stephenson, Liam Hutchings, Joe Hutchings (Jack Parkinson), Jack Price, Jonathan Rogers, Lewys Gibby (Rhys Lane), Bradley Davies, Dan Smith, Tom Slater (Ryan Rees), Alex Jenkins (Jake Simm), Adam Clarke, Pat Roberts, Sean Jenkins (Dewi Williams), Steffan Phillips.