Narberth are top of Division One following Wednesday evening's win over division newcomers Bridgend Athletic. The Otters fought back in the second half despite trailing by 20 points to 13 at the interval. The visitors, with nine players aged 21 or under, showed why they have moved up the divisions so rapidly, with a strong first half display. They took advantage of some uncharacteristic defensive errors by the Otters to run in tries by scrum-half Danny Williams and winger Dafydd Pound, both of which were converted by outside-half Stuart Morris. Narberth took the lead after three minutes with a Gareth James penalty, but Stuart Morris quickly equalised with a mammoth penalty kick from the halfway line. Gary Denver regained the advantage for Narberth with a well-worked try from broken play, but converted tries after 14 minutes and 28 minutes by Williams and Pound, respectively, gave the visitors the lead once again. That lead was extended by the accurate left foot of Morris, before an injury time penalty by James clawed back three points for the Otters just before the break After three minutes of the second half, winger Richard Rees scored the first of his three tries with a powerful run up the right touchline after good work in the loose by prop Nathan Williams. The try was converted by Gareth James, who also converted the next try, which was scored in the left corner by Elgan Vittle, when he finished off another exciting move. It was followed by an unconverted try by fullback Sion Brace in the left corner and then by another in the left corner by Nick Jones, after a superb cross field break by Richard Rees. In the closing minutes, Richard Rees touched down in the right corner for a try after a barnstorming run by substitute prop Fifitapuku Faletau. Rees then capped an outstanding display when he completed his hat-trick after a blistering break from inside his own half by Adrian Killa. Substitute outside-half Scott Penny added the two points from the conversion. Speaking immediately after the match, director of rugby, Rob Phillips, said: "We played some excellent rugby during the first half and created lots of chances, some of which went a begging. In fairness to Bridgend Athletic, they took the couple of chances that they had to take a first half lead. "The most pleasing aspect of our performance today, was not only the quality of our rugby, but the composure and maturity within the side to come back strongly after a couple of setbacks. "We went in at half-time with a seven points deficit, but the boys continued to play their expansive style of rugby during the second half. It paid dividends and we scored some lovely tries." On being asked on what it felt like to be top of Division One, the ever realistic Phillips said: "It is early days and there is a long we to go." Looking forward to tomorrow's match in Cardiff against UWIC, he commented: "UWIC will be particularly tough. The reports that we have received about UWIC this season are that the students have been playing some very impressive rugby and if we can come away from Cyncoed with a win, we will be very satisfied." Reflecting on the Bridgend Athletic match, he was delighted with the performance of the team as a whole and some of the individual displays. "The forwards played some of the best rugby that they have shown this season. Nathan Williams stood out in the front row, flanker Gary Devnver had his usual game, number eight Lewis Wood was hitting top form before he was injured, and again flanker Rob McCusker had another good performance. For a young player, he has been a great find for us this season. "In the backs, centre Neil Davies had a very good game on his debut, the half-backs Adrian Killa and Gareth James prospered and made some excellent decisions, centre Elgan Vittle showed us an extra dimension to his game with his power play and the superb finishing of winger Richard Rees spoke volumes." Flanker Rob McCusker and winger Richard Rees were nominated as men-of-the-match by the match sponsors. The Folly Farm Balcony Suite match sponsors were Celtic Inns and the Otters' Holt match sponsors were Dawnus Construction Ltd., of Swansea. The match ball was sponsored by the Narberth Former Players' Association and Preseli Filling Station, Llanddewi Velfrey Narberth fielded: Sion Brace, Nick Jones (Adrian Killa), Richard Rees, Elgan Vittle, Neil Davies (Andrew Bowen), Gareth James (Scott Penney), Adrian Killa, Nathan Williams (Barry Davies), Kevin Allen (Fifipuku Faletau), Alan Phillips, capt., David Ebsworth, Emori Katalau, Rob McCusker, Gary Denver, and Lewis Wood (Gareth Bennett).
