Cardiff Met 32 pts. Narberth 15

Last Saturday proved to be a tale of woe for the Otters. Firstly they learned that their physiotherapist was in A & E having suffered a fall whilst horse riding - the X-ray showed a fractured spine. Then by half-time, inspirational captain Alex Jenkins suffered a neck injury which needed hospital attention, whilst on the pitch the students gained the upper hand in the first half.

The Otters welcomed back Nick Gale while Joel Hutchings replaced the unavailable Paul Davies in the centre.

The Otters kicked off, but spectators quickly witnessed a strongly motivated Cardiff Met team. They managed some fast and hard running movements, along with occasional mazy running from their threequarters.

Within four minutes they scored a try by fullback Tom Benjamin. This came when the Otters ran out from the 22 and a pass was knocked-on, the referee allowed play to continue, enabling Cardiff Met to open up the Otters’ defence, exposing gaps which they took advantage of as Tom Benjamin sped through for his try, which fly-half George Simpson converted.

The students continued to attempt to break through, going into the rucks at speed. Their second try came when they kicked forward, the ball bounced along for scrum-half Ben Holt to pick up and cross for an unconverted try.

It was clear that the speed of the students and their varied use of the ball was causing problems for the Otters to contain them.

Dan Jacobs had to leave with a leg injury and was replaced by Bradley Davies.

On 13 minutes, Ianto Griffiths had the chance to put the Otters on the scoreboard with a penalty; his kick produced the length, but the ball went left of the posts.

The Otters fielded the kick out and made ground and, following the ruck, Jake Simm burst forward and at the subsequent ruck the students were penalised. This time Ianto Griffiths placed his accurate kick between the posts, getting the Otters on to the scoreboard.

The students attacked from the kick-off, gained the ball and outpaced the Otters, but when tackled, they offended at the ruck. Ianto Griffiths found touch with the resultant penalty, the Otters safely fielded the ball at the lineout and attempted to move forward spreading wide, but unfortunately a knock-on ended the movement.

On 25 minutes, the students scored their third try. The try started with a lineout at halfway, the ball was fed to the fly-half who broke forward and evaded three attempted tackles and, when challenged, threw a long pass to the far wing, Nick Gealy, who sprinted over to touch down for the score, which George Simpson converted.

Shortly afterwards, a fierce encounter ensued, with a student receiving a yellow card. A minute later, on 30 minutes, they suffered a further yellow card for fighting.

The Otters took advantage and elected to scrummage. The first scrum did not meet the referee’s requirements and was reset. This time, Rhys Lane picked up the ball from the base of the scrum and scored a try with a sniping run, which Ianto Griffiths converted to bring the score to 19-10.

Unfortunately, the Otters were not able to make much headway and again were penalised at the ruck. The students kicked for touch, an overthrow at the lineout was to the Otters’ advantage, but were they unable to take full advantage of the situation.

An infringement occurred, enabling the students to gain a further penalty and three points via the boot of George Simpson.

Once again the Otters attempted to make ground and via further student infringements Ianto Griffiths placed the penalty kick to touch just outside the five-metre line and, via two rucks, made further ground, only to infringe, enabling the students to relieve the pressure with a kick almost to the halfway.

Chasing upfield, the students kicked ahead and, with the ball bouncing on the surprisingly firm but greasy surface, the Otters had difficulty getting hands on it before the students regathered and reached the line in the far corner to score via lock forward Eloardo Balocco. George Simpson converted.

The referee blew for half-time, having added 10 minutes for stoppages, with the score at 29-10.

It quickly became clear that Alex Jenkins, who had tried to stop the try, was seriously hurt It was half-an-hour before he was moved by stretcher to the university changing rooms, where he remained covered in a thermal blanket.

The second half saw changes to the Otters. Pat Roberts replaced the injured Alex Jenkins, Keiron Griffiths replaced the injured Nick Gale and Jonathon Rogers replaced Ianto Griffiths, with Richard Rees assuming the captaincy.

The Narberth coaches, having observed the students’ game plan, changed their own game plan, with the Otters spreading the ball and running hard at the students. Immediately, the students infringed at a ruck, but unfortunately the kick at goal failed.

The Otters then attacked strongly through Richard Rees, but at the subsequent ruck, the Otters were penalised. The Met kicked for touch, but lost the subsequent lineout; unfortunately the Otters were not able to make much headway.

Again the students attempted to move forward, but the Otters infringed at the ruck. George Simpson failed to find the posts with the penalty.

Then on 53 minutes, hooker Dan Smith, struggling with a leg injury, was replaced by newcomer Rhodri Owens.

A minute later, the Otters set up a determined attack from a successful ruck. On receiving the ball, Jonathan Rogers set wing Liam Hutchings free, who ran strongly and, when challenged, passed to Keiron Griffiths, who with his strong running scored a much-needed try. Jonathan Rogers failed with conversion.

Unfortunately, one of the students suffered a serious injury at the ruck and play was delayed for half-an-hour whilst a suitable stretcher could be found.

The game restarted with a scrum which the students heeled and with a fast moving attack reached the Otters’ five-metre line and attempted to force their way over the line. The Otters’ defence held and the ball ended in touch.

At the lineout, the students knocked-on. A scrum was set, the Otters heeled and number eight Richard Rees made ground before being tackled, the Otters rucked and Jonathan Rogers kicked to touch. Play became scrappy, with both sides losing some focus, but the Otters made ground, until the students gained a penalty, from which substitute Tom Morgan successfully added three points, taking the score to 32-15.

Five minutes later, he failed to kick a momentous 55-metre penalty. The referee then blew time.

Later, head coach Sean Gale commented on the Otters performance: “It was not a happy day. Unfortunately, physio Jenny broke her back, which was bad news, and unfortunately on the field we were disappointing and played as though we were still on the bus. They played very well, they played at a tempo we could not match. They were too good for us on the day.

“We came back in the second half, Richard Rees came into the game and we played well in the last 25 minutes, but it was too late. So it was disappointing, we are a better team than we played, it was a bad day at the office. We suffered injuries, Dan Smith injured his leg and Alex Jenkins suffered his injury. All in all, they were a better team and more ferocious in the contact area and they won the gain line in defence and on the day were too good for us.”

Travelling supporters showed concern when leaving at 6 pm that Alex Jenkins was still awaiting an ambulance. The university has a strong medical team and his injury was not considered life-threatening. He was eventually moved by ambulance at 7.30 pm. After examination, the injury was identified as damaged neck and shoulder ligaments and he was then released to be transported home by club members.

Narberth fielded: Nick Gale (Keiron Griffiths), Gethin Gibby, Joe Hutchings, Paul Davies, Liam Hutchings, Ianto Griffiths (Jonathan Rogers), Rhys Lane, Dan Jacobs (Bradley Davies), Dan Smith (Rhodri Owens), Tom Slater, Jake Simms, Alex Jenkins, capt. (Pat Roberts), Tom Powell, Sean Jenkins, Richard Rees.