Narberth 50 pts. Carmarthen Ath. 15

In the first game played at Narberth since November 20, the Red and Blacks were unable to continue their three match winning run against the Otters who scored a point a minute in the first quarter-of-an-hour to be well and truly in the driving seat.

Although the lead was reduced to just six points by half-time, the Otters took the game out of sight to add a brace of try hat-tricks to add to the two tries scored in the first half with another wonderful display of entertaining running rugby.

In the second half, the Otters continued where they had left off away to Felinfoel in the previous match, but the platform for the big win was laid in the first half when Athletic refused to let the game get out of sight.

Narberth opened the scoring with a try by centre Lee Glanville after slick hands by the backs had created a glimmer of a chance which Glanville grasped with both hands to score near the posts. It was converted by outside-half Aled Davies, who was unable to convert the next try scored by winger Tom Bonnell.

However, Davies did create the try with a delicate cross kick which was weighted and judged to perfection and Bonnell went outside the covering defence to finish in style.

Davies also converted a penalty to extend the lead, before the Red and Blacks struck back with two tries in quick succession, scored by centres Viv Jenkins and Rhys Lewis.

The first by Viv Jenkins was converted by fullback Ricky Williams, but the second by Rhys Lewis was not converted.

Aled Davies added another penalty and the Otters started to get the edge, although a team like Carmarthen Quins can never be written-off.

Any doubt about the slight edge for the Narberth team, was removed in the first 11 minutes of the second half when the Otters seized the ascendancy with three successive tries.

The first by centre Steve Martin was the result of another bout of inter-passing and the second by fullback Roger Davies came from another move prompted by the Narberth backs. The third by Steve Martin showed the class of this attacking centre with a sharp eye for the half chance and he cut through the Red and Black defence with a superb jinking run.

Three more tties were added, which allowed Roger Davies and Steve Martin to complete a well deserved a hat-trick of tries, respectively, with only one try being converted by Aled Davies.

Number eight Lawrence Reynolds had an unconverted consolation try for the visitors despite the mayhem at the other end, as the Otters notched up 50 points for the second league game on the trot.

After the break for the international match at Cardiff tomorrow, Narberth are away to league leaders Bridgend the following Saturday (March 19) in a re-arranged fixture.

Delighted Narberth director of rugby Jonathan Dodd said: "It must have been one of our best performances of the season. We controlled territory and possession very well, created chances and scored some nice tries.

"After a poor mid-season we want to keep this standard of play until the end of the season, including our tackling which was excellent today.

"There were some exceptional performances in a great team effort, with outside-half Aled Davies, scrum-half Adrian Killa and local Chris Scarf being the stand-out players."

True to character, Athletic team manager Stuart Harris took it on the chin. He said: "We had a very disappointing start as Narberth came out of the changing rooms better than we did. We hardly touched the ball in the first 15 minutes and we were soon 15 points adrift. We had to chase the game from then on really."

Narberth fullback Roger Davies was chosen as man-of-the-match by the match sponsors, Countrywide Farmers and Anthony Rees Livestock.

The match ball sponsors were Narberth Former Players Association, Tenby Male Choir and John R. Davies.

Minute's Silence

Prior to the start of the match between Narberth and Carmarthen Athletic, a minute's silence was held in memory of club stalwart and lifelong supporter, Mrs. Betty (Mac) Howells