Powerful up front, backed up by some scintillating play by the threequarters, Narberth built on their lead of 16 points at the interval to run in three converted tries in the second half. The Recreation Ground at Brynmawr has never been a happy hunting ground for the Otters and remarkably this was Narberth's first win at the ground. The Narberth pack were superb and as a result the visitors dominated large chunks of the game. Brynmawr have not been at their best this season, but on Saturday they were a much-improved team from that which was so heavily defeated in the corresponding fixture at Narberth earlier in the season. Elgan Vittle put the Otters in the lead with a well-worked try after seven minutes. It was a move which Vittle had started himself with an interception on the halfway line. When the move broke down, the ball was recycled and outside-half Gareth James kicked or rather used his knee to lob the ball ahead and Vittle, who was playing out of position on the left wing, was in support over on the right to cross for a try converted by James. Brynmawr outside-half Daniel Phillips had an opportunity to reduce the lead with a penalty after 10 minutes, but the kick was off target. In contrast, his opposite number Gareth James was at his immaculate best in difficult kicking conditions. Although the mountain mist had lifted and the rain had eased, the ground was quite slippery and very muddy in places. It proved to be no obstacle for James, who kicked three successive penalties, including one on the stroke of half-time to give the visitors a substantial lead. For the closing stages of the first half and the opening stages of the second half, the Brynmawr team proved to be a bit of a handful. Nevertheless, the Narberth defence was resolute and the attackers kept at bay. It was a signal for some individual magic started by centre Andrew Bowen. Receiving the ball on the Brynmawr 22, Vittle somehow spotted a gap in the crowded Brynmawr defence. Reminiscent of the famous Ryan Giggs goal for Manchester United against Arsenal some seasons ago, Bowen somehow threaded and barged his way through defender after defender and managed to use his skill and power to cross for a try near the posts. Gareth James converted. Midway through the half, right wing Nick Jones dashed up the right touchline in another exciting run, but he was deprived of a try when he was tackled on the line. After 33 minutes, scrum-half Adrian Killa had a brilliant run from inside his own half up the left touchline and then cut inside for a try halfway out on the left. Again Gareth James converted. Elgan Vittle had started the scoring and he finished the scoring for the day with one of his trademark interception tries. Always alert for an interception, Vittle grasped the ball on the halfway line and raced unopposed to touch down under the posts and James maintained his hundred per cent record to convert. There were times during the match when Brynmawr put Narberth under considerable pressure, but the back row and the backs defended well. Narberth captain Alan Phillips had his best game of the season and as well as doing everything expected in the set-pieces he was also prominent in the loose taking the ball on at every opportunity. The pack combined as a unit and it was one of those days when everybody had a good game in the pack and the backs. Adrian Killa controlled things well at the base of the scrum and his half-back partner Gareth James had an excellent all-round game, with his positional kicking being out of the top-drawer, as well as his place kicking. Fullback Sion Brace was rock solid in defence and initiated counter-attacks by running at the Brynmawr defence at every opportunity. Emori Katalau and Ifan Davies controlled the lineout and it was good to see Jamie Parr making his first start for Narberth in the front row. There have been times this season when the Narberth pack have not formed an effective unit, but they have been very cohesive in their last two games away to Blackwood and Brynmawr. They will face a sterner test in tomorrow's home fixture against Llangennech in what should be an intriguing contest between two of the top teams in Division One. Narberth fielded: Sion Brace (Mark Davies), Nick Jones, Neil Davies, Andrew Bowen, Elgan Vittle, Gareth James, Adrian Killa, Alan Phillips (capt.), Kevin Allen, Jamie Parr (Barry Davies), David Ebsworth, Ifan Davies, Emori Katalau (Jason Jennings), Gary Denver and Lewis Wood.
