Narberth 29 pts. Llanharan 6
Narberth maintained their recent winning streak with a comfortable win at home against a much- improved Llanharan team. Both teams played entertaining and attacking rugby and the spectators who braved the elements after the morning snow were rewarded with some entertaining rugby. Narberth outside-half Tom Lewis hooked a difficult penalty attempt from the left touchline after 12 minutes, but within three minutes he put the Otters in front with a well-struck penalty just outside the 22 from the right touchline. Two minutes later, an ambitious penalty attempt by Lewis from the halfway line had the legs, but not the accuracy. Although both teams were searching for the first try of the match, Narberth had the edge on proceedings and were rewarded when a great break by centre Phil Thomas resulted in a try by outside- half Tom Lewis who was in support. Lewis touched down under the posts and added the conversion points himself. The only other score of the first half came from the boot of Llanharan scrum-half Greg Jones with a penalty. The Dairymen threatened the Otters' line just before half-time, but a counter-attack by Narberth scrum-half Andrew Davies, with a break to the halfway line, could have ended in a try for the Otters, but the supporting players did not have the pace to take the ball on. At the start of the second half, Greg Jones scored his second penalty for the Dairymen to reduce the lead to just four points. It was the last time for the visitors to score in this match as the Otters slowly but surely took the game away from the visitors. Fullback Sion Brace triggered off a Narberth counter-attack when he took a high ball cleanly inside the Narberth half. He set off on a diagonal run towards the right touchline underneath the stand. Alert centre Phil Thomas was in support and released winger Josh Freeman, who forced his way over in the right corner from an unconverted try. Otters' centre Phil Thomas had come close to scoring an interception try in the first half. He did better after 73 minutes of the match when he intercepted a pass inside the Narberth half and broke away to show a clean pair of heels to touchdown under the posts and the reliable boot of Tom Lewis added the two points for the conversion. Lewis had a hand in the next try with an attacking diagonal kick from inside his own half. John Freeman ran in support. The bounce of the ball could not have been better as instead of running on to the first Llanharan defender, it bounced back into the safe hands of Freeman. The strong running winger cut inside and showed his determination to score near the posts for the final try of the match, which was converted by Tom Lewis. Narberth team manager Robert Lewis was delighted with the way that the Narberth team played on the day. Commenting after the match he said: "We were very pleased with the result today as we thought it would be a hard game. Llanharan had put a few good results together recently, including an impressive win over Newbridge who are at the top end of the table. "The boys put in an excellent performance with a good all-round display. It was a good team effort, our forwards stuck at it, despite being under the cosh at times and we defended well. "Despite losing two props through injury during the game, we did very well in the scrums, while Emori Katalau and Jason Jennings won clean lineout ball and the back row was outstanding. "The scoreline may have flattered us slightly, but it was a very good win, with some excellent tries, and everyone, including players, officials and supporters, can go home happy!" Although the Dairymen persisted with the rolling maul as an attacking weapon, the Otters defended very well against this approach. It was an excellent all-round team performance, with a prominent display by the back row and in particular by flanker Mathew Davies. Scrum-half Andrew Davies and centre Phil Thomas put in their best performances since joining the Narberth club, but everyone in the team gave 100 per cent and there were no obvious weak links. It was good to see Jason Jennings at lock and Sion Brace at fullback returning to league action which such success. As well as having a good all-round game, Brace also organised the defence so as to prevent the visitors from scoring a try. Scrum-half Andrew Davies was nominated man of the match by the match sponsors. Regular sponsors Cefnogwyr Clunderwen with the sponsors in the Folly Farm Balcony Suite and another regular group of supporters, the Friends of the late Roy Brown were the Otters Holt match sponsors. The match ball was sponsored by the Eagle Inn, Narberth, Wynn Phillips, together with the legendary Lout and Bates. Narberth have a rest from league action tomorrow (Saturday) because of the international at the Millennium Stadium between Wales and Italy. However, Narberth face a difficult match on Sunday, with an away game against Cwmllynfell in a re- arranged Division One league clash. Narberth fielded: Sion Brace, Josh Freeman, Phil Thomas, Neil Davies, Rob Irving (Wes Pooley), Tom Lewis, Andrew Davies, Fifitipuku Faletau (Sayasi Navunitale), Adrian Chiffi, Alan Phillips, Emori Katalau (captain), Jason Jennings (David Ebsworth), Anthony Griffiths, Mathew Davies and Lewis Wood.