FELINFOEL3 pts
NARBERTH 29
The Otters produced some
scintillating rugby to register a
convincing win away to
Felinfoel in an excellent start to
the second half of the league
programme.
The superb threequarter play
produced four tries, three of
which were scored in the first
half, and the backs thrived on the
possession provided by the
Narberth pack, which dominated
Foel up front.
From the outset at the
Recreation Ground, it was clear
that the Otters meant business as
the visitors dominated territory.
Something had to give and it
did when winger Tom Bonnell
went over in the left corner for a
try following some excellent play
by outside-half Craig Jones, who
did well to convert from the
touchline.
The lead was extended by skipper
Richard Davies, playing at
fullback on this occasion, when
he came into the line to finish off
another good handling movement
with a try which Jones was
unable to convert.
Centre Mark Heywood made
an impact throughout the match
and he scored a cracking individual
try after 28 minutes when he
ran through the middle of the
Foel defence to cross for a try
near the posts, which was converted
by Craig Jones.
Foel outside-half Mark Jones
reduced the lead with a penalty
from 25 metres, which was to
prove to be the only Felinfoel
score of the match.
During first-half injury time,
Craig Jones extended the lead
with a medium distance penalty
kick and just before the half-time
whistle went, Richard Davies
was yellow-carded to reduce
Narberth to 14 players for the
start of the second half.
No points were conceded when
Davies was off the field, but the
points scoring dried up, as Foel
sought to bolster their defence.
Craig Jones missed out on a
penalty opportunity after 15 minutes
and Felinfoel suffered a
blow when skipper and prominent
number eight Stuart Jenkins
was yellow-carded.
Two more Foel players were
also sent to the sin-bin, with
replacement hooker Simon
Delaney leaving the field after 30
minutes and flanker Chris Strick
following five minutes later.
When Craig Jones started to
hobble because of cramp, Adrian
Killa came on to play on the wing
and winger Nick Jones moved
inside to take over the number 10
position.
Nick Jones scored straight
away. The Otters were near the
Felinfoel 22 and Jones chipped
the ball over the covering
defence and won the race for the
touchdown for a try which he
converted himself.
No more points were scored,
but it was a satisfying afternoon
for the Narberth players, coaches
and supporters.
Forwards coach Sean Gale was
beaming after the match and full
of praise for the team for producing
such a great display.
He said: "It was a very pleasing
win, plus a bonus point. We have
not trained much of late, but the
boys stuck together and performed
very well.
"The first-half play was
absolutely outstanding and we
played the type of rugby we have
been trying to achieve all season.
" We brought it together following
a team talk between the
players and coaches where we
agreed that this is the standard of
play we want to achieve on a regular
basis.
"It was not a bad Felinfoel side
and for us to get a bonus point
away from home here was an
excellent result."
On being asked about individual
performances, he added:
"Lock Alex Jenkins was the team
management's choice as man-ofthe-
match, closely followed by
flanker Gareth Bateman.
"It was a cracking performance
by the pack as a whole, well led
by prop Justin Hughes, and
young flanker Simon Griffiths is
developing nicely.
"Fly-half Craig Jones controlled
things well and from a
selectors' point of view the two
big things are the way that Simon
Griffiths, a local boy, is coming
through, together with another
Pembrokeshire product, Mark
Heywood, who joined the club
from Tenby. Both players have
shown that they can step up to the
mark.
"It was a great result, with
some great tries following an
excellent team performance and
hopefully augurs well for the
future.
"Our aim will be to keep it
going as we move into the New
Year."
On Saturday January 2, the
Otters start off the New Year with
a local derby at home to
Carmarthen Athletic. Kick-off is
at 2.30 pm.
Narberth fielded: Richard
Davies (capt.), Nick Jones, John
Leyshon, Mark Heywood, Tom
Bonnell, Craig Jones, Andrew
Davies, Sean Lloyd, Dan Smith,
Justin Hughes, Chris James
(Jason Jennings), Alex Jenkins,
Gareth Bateman, Simon Griffiths
and Colin Davies (Steffan
Phillips and Aled Harries).