Narberth 59 pts. Corus 17

Three tries were scored in the first three minutes to set the scene for an enterprising game, with the Otters finishing as comfortable winners. Four tries in the first half and six in the second half also gave the Narberth team an extra bonus point and during the season, bonus points for all teams will add up to play an important part in the final league positions. Some spectators had not taken their seat in the stand or their place along the touchline when winger Andrew Jones opened the scoring for Narberth after 17 seconds with an unconverted try. Corus, newly-promoted to Division One West, were making their first visit to the Lewis Lloyd Ground and showed their steely resolve by getting back into the game quickly with a try by number eight Gavin Langford, converted by centre Neil Gadd. For the third time in the space of three minutes, the lead changed again when Narberth winger Tom Bonnell finished off a move to cross for a try converted by Aled Davies. For the next 14 minutes or so, both teams cancelled each other out. Corus had some big players in the pack, but were missing a couple of regulars behind and spectators wondered whether the fitness of the Narberth team would pay dividends in the end. It did. The Otters started to take control of the match when flanker Andrew Davies finished off a great move from a scrum with a splendid unconverted try. Corus centre Neil Gadd got on the scoresheet again with a short-range penalty, but the Narberth lead was increased to 10 points when outside-half Aled Davies was on target with a penalty for the Otters. Shortly before the interval, Narberth skipper Sion Brace intercepted a Corus attack inside the Narberth 22 and raced the length of the field for an outstanding unconverted try. The second half was barely a minute old when centre Richard Davies finished off another terrific movement by the backs with an unconverted try in the right corner. The lead was increased with two tries in the space of three minutes by centre Steve Martin. The first came from a lineout when Martin was the beneficiary of a long pass from Aled Davies, before breaking through the Corus defence. Three minutes later he finished off a counter-attack from inside the Narberth 22 after some more 15-man rugby, including a good run by hooker Justin Hughes with a try converted by Aled Davies. Although the game was getting out of reach for the visitors, replacement winger Cameron Davies clawed back some points with a try converted by Neil Gadd, but the Otters were soon on the rampage again with three more tries. The first was scored by winger Tom Bonnell to bring his match tally to two. It was followed by a quite breathtaking individual try by winger Andrew Jones from well inside his own half, which gave the rejuvenated paceman his second try of the match, which was converted by replacement number 10 Matthew Davies. The substitute outside-half had the last word with an unconverted try for Narberth to bring the scoring to an end. Although delighted with the win, backs coach Clive James was in realistic mood after the match, recognising that certain areas needed attention. In his post match comments, James said: "We finished off some really good tries and looked very sharp behind with some great running angles. "However, we were a bit loose up front, with the penalty count and our discipline both proving costly. "Another area we need to work on is receiving the ball from kick-offs. We scored some good tries and then conceded ground and possession from the kick-off. This will be monitored and remedied during our training sessions. "On an individual note, it was especially pleasing that winger Andrew Jones is rediscovering his form. He has looked sharp in pre-season training and match situations. This was demonstrated by his performance today during which he scored a terrific solo try. "The centre partnership of Steve Martin and Richard Davies has clicked, outside-half Aled Davies is settling into his role and scrum-half Adrian Killa is back to his old form. "We missed injured hooker Dan Smith, as it caused some disruption to our forward play, and we need to tighten up our defence around the fringes. "Overall, it was a good result and we picked up a valuable bonus point. "Flankers Andrew Dennis and Lloyd Phillips got the continuity going between the backs and the pack and there is strong competition for places in the second row, with Chris James, Alex Jenkins and Tristan Bowen all having good games today. This competition means that everyone has got to be on top form." Tomorrow (Saturday) and the following Saturday (October 6) the Otters have a break from league action because of the Wales' involvement in the Rugby World Cup. The next league game for the Narberth players will be on Saturday, October 13, with an away fixture at Dunvant. Winger Andrew Jones was chosen as the man-of- the-match by the Narberth team management and he was presented with his award by Luke Remington, of F. B. Mason, one of the club's sponsors. Narberth fielded: Sion Brace (capt.), Tom Bonnell, Steve Martin, Richard Davies, Andrew Jones, Adrian Killa (Andrew Davies), Aled Davies (Matthew Davies), Scott Payne, Justin Hughes, Tom Slater (Gethin Beynon), Chris James, Tristan Bowen (Alec Jenkins), Lloyd Phillips, Andrew Dennis and Jamie Bohata (Gareth Bateman).