Merthyr 26 pts. Narberth 29

Merthyr only held the lead for a period of five minutes during this match, but allowed the game to slip out of their grasp in the last five minutes by missing out on three golden try-scoring opportunities. As a result, Narberth supporters left the ground thinking that the Otters had got out of jail. Conditions were perfect for open rugby on a glorious afternoon at the Wern. The Merthyr ground has not been a happy hunting ground for Narberth over the years, but the Otters were in the lead after just two minutes when winger Nick Jones slotted over a penalty from inside the 22. Within five minutes, Jones had extended the lead. The move came from a counter-attack near the Narberth 22 when fullback and captain Sion Brace picked up a kick ahead from Wayne Booth, the Merthyr outside-half. Brace beat two defenders and then played a one- two with Nick Jones, before the winger used his pace to go around the covering defence to cross the line near the posts. He converted his own try and Narberth were leading by 10 points just after seven minutes. Points scoring continued at a point a minute when winger Andrew Jones touched down in the left corner. Teenage outside-half Rhodri James set up the move with a long pass to Steve Martin. The centre used his vision and pace to open up gaps in the Merthyr defence and, although there was a suspicion of a forward pass in the movement which followed, Andrew Jones was able to score an unconverted try in the left corner. Both teams attacked at every opportunity and the game was full of interest for the spectators. Midway through the first half, Darren Jones, the Merthyr flanker, picked up the first points for the Ironmen when he followed up his own kick to cross the line for a try converted by fullback James Quirke. After 27 minutes, Darren Jones was yellow-carded, but the Otters only scored one try when he was off the field. A tremendous break by Steve Martin took the ball near the Merthyr line, before the move broke down. However, Martin continued to look for every scoring opportunity and has proved particularly adept at picking up any loose ball. After 38 minutes, he spotted his chance to pounce when he grabbed the ball just outside the Merthyr 22 to break through the defence to cross for a try converted by Nick Jones. When the Ironmen were restored to 15 men, they managed to reduce the deficit with an injury time try by centre Robert Downs, which was converted by James Quirke. The try had been initiated as a result of a clever jinking run by Wayne Booth. The Ironmen were still in the game and came even closer to the Narberth score after two minutes of the second half. Another clever break by outside- half Wayne Booth gave some space for winger Daniel Davies, who crossed from the right to make the most of a narrow gap to cross the Narberth line, aided by some indifferent tackling. The conversion by James Quirke meant that the Ironmen were just one point behind. Game on! The Ironmen had a chance to take the lead with a short-range penalty from James Quirke and there were gasps of astonishment by the Merthyr fans, and of relief by the Narberth supporters, when he missed. Narberth scrum-half Chris MacDonald was like a terrier behind the pack all afternoon and generally had a good all-round game. A trademark blindside break by MacDonald set up a scoring chance for Nick Jones along the touchline, but the Ironmen were able to prevent a try from being scored. After 25 minutes, the Ironmen took the lead when substitute winger Lewis Williams scored with virtually his first touch of the ball. He was able to finish off an excellent counter-attack by Merthyr from inside the 22, but the try went unconverted so that the Merthyr lead was four points. With 10 minutes of the match remaining, Steve Martin used an opportunity to score the match- winning try for the Otters. Yet again he intercepted the ball and won the race for the touchdown. Nick Jones added the conversion to leave the teams grappling for the three points. Wayne Booth had an opportunity to bring the scores level with a penalty attempt from 35 metres, but he hooked the ball, and in the last five minutes three scoring chances were not taken by the Ironmen, to leave their supporters thinking of what might have been. Commenting after the match, team manager Robert Lewis said: "We've got to be pleased at the end of the day, as we don't come up to Merthyr very often and get a result. "Although we had three points, the performance was a little disappointing. The pack did well in the set-pieces, although the forwards were a little sluggish getting around the field and the backs were somewhat indifferent. "Centre Steve Martin played exceptionally well, despite letting some chances slip by delaying a pass, and it was nice to see teenager Rhodri James playing alongside the experienced Chris Macdonald at half-back. "We were a bit lax in defence and let in too many tries. It was a game where the team in possession looked like scoring and play moved from one end to the other. In some respects, Merthyr lost the game rather than Narberth winning it, as the Ironmen missed three clear-cut scoring opportunities in the last five minutes. "In the first half, we had plenty of chances to score, but did not take them, whereas in the second half we had one chance, which we took. Merthyr could have drawn level with a penalty in the second half and in some respects a draw would have been a fair result. "We still have a lot to work on to hold on to a top six place in Division One West. We are in a mid- table position in a closely contested league, so that the three points were vital. "Steve Martin was the team management's choice as man-of-the-match, closely followed by the consistent Lewis Wood at number eight." Narberth do not have a league match tomorrow (Saturday) because of the international at Murrayfield between Scotland and Wales. The following Saturday, the Otters will be home to Dunvant at the Lewis Lloyd Ground. Although Narberth won the away fixture, Dunvant had been ahead at half-time. The Dunvant team has improved in recent weeks and the Narberth players know they will have to work hard to remain in the top six of a tightly fought league. The match at Merthyr was likely to be the last time that Lloyd Phillips will play for Narberth this season in view of his commitments with the Welsh Under 19 squad and Scarlets Academy. His success has been an inspiration to other young rugby players in the Narberth junior and youth development squads and he has put in excellent performances when playing for the Otters this season. Narberth fielded: Sion Brace (capt.), Nick Jones, Steve Martin, Neil Davies (Mike Georgiou), Andrew Jones (Mark Davies), Rhodri James, Chris MacDonald, Nathan Williams, Dan Smith, Justin Hughes, David Ebsworth (Jack Mason), Chris James, Jamie Bohata, Lloyd Phillips and Lewis Wood.