NARBERTH 116 pts.

TREORCHY 9

Nine tries in each half, 13 of which were converted by outside-half Simon Daniel, gave the Otters a runaway victory over a depleted Zebras' team.

These days the Zebras are a spent force since their period up with the big guns in the highest echelon of Welsh rugby. When the dream was over, players and supporters deserted the club and only the hardcore remain.

To their credit they have kept going, as they did to the end of this match at Narberth, when they only had 12 players on the field at the final whistle after arriving with no substitutes.

From the kick-off, Narberth made the early running and could have scored three times before fullback Andy Warner finished off a move with a converted try when he came into the line after five minutes.

Try followed try with a regularity which became predictable as well as a little monotonous. Nevertheless in league rugby, teams have to take advantage of a lop-sided situation as at the end of the season, the try count can be an important factor, especially with Narberth and Whitland both locked into a neck and neck race for third place in the Division One table.

Winger Andrew Jones crossed the line for four tries in the first half, three of which were converted by Simon Daniel, who also converted the other first half tries scored by flanker Meurig Daniel, centre Deiniol Evans, centre Elgan Vittle and lock David Ebsworth.

The fact that eight of the nine tries were scored by backs painted a picture in itself of the way in which the game was played.

If one try had to be singled out it would be the second of the tries by Andrew Jones. Treorchy had made their first excursion inside the Narberth 22 and were awarded a scrum. Although the visitors won the ball, it was snatched from their possession by Narberth scrum-half Chris MacDonald.

Acting both quickly and spontaneously, Macdonald moved the ball across the line in a blindside attack. Good work by Simon Daniel and Deiniol Evans set Jones off the leash just outside the Narberth 22.

His radar was in position and he made for the line using his pace, change of direction and body swerve before crossing the line for a glorious try near the posts.

Scrum-half Lee Stone kicked a penalty for Treorchy after 13 minutes, much to the relief of the crowd.

It was much the same story in the second half, although two of the Narberth pack also joined in the fun, with prop forward Fifipuku Faletau finishing two trademark surging runs with tries and substitute number eight Katilimoni Tuipulotu also joining in the fun with a try.

Andrew Jones picked up his fifth try of the match soon after the kick-off and there were also tries for Simon Daniel, together with substitutes Dafydd Evans, Adrian Killa and Nick Jones. Five of the tries were converted by Simon Daniel.

For the Zebras, Lee Stone followed up his first half penalty with two penalties in the second half.

Eventually the plunder ended after a new league record had been established for Narberth with the total of 116.

The crowd had warmed to the commitment of the Treorchy players during the match and the 12 true men players left the field to a standing ovation for the pluck which they had displayed.

Speaking to Observer Sport after the match, Narberth senior coach Jonathan Dodd said: "Treorchy stuck at it to the end. They could have played the prop card (a reference to uncontested scrums), but did not do that until right at the end when they were down to 12 players. It was good of them to fulfil the fixture and to keep committed throughout the game.

"Narberth had to score points and we needed the tries. In a game of this nature it is hard to give a view on the performance. We played well and produced some good tries. However, we were a little loose at times and overall the performance was not as good as that produced in our away match against UWIC, although we did carry on where we left off last week."

Winger Andrew Jones was deservedly nominated the backs mn-of-the-match and prop Fifipuku Faletau was nominated as the forwards man-of-the-match.

Winger Andrew Jones gave a superb complete all-round display. Instinctively he knew when to run and when to pass and although he was one try away from equalling the club record set by John Whitticombe, he did not try to steal the glory but gave an unselfish display.

Fullback Andy Warner was another player who appeared to have the knack of doing the right thing at the right time, while centre Elgan Vittle gave another consistent performance as well as holding the backline together.

Up front, flanker Meurig Daniel went forward very well and hooker Craig Hawkins got through a lot of work as usual.

It was a day to remember for Fifipuku Faletau. In his first home game following his recent wedding to Narberth supporter Emma, not only did he score two tries, but he was also nominated as one of the men-of-the-match and to cap it all, after the post-match presentations he even won the jackpot when he had the winning key in the 'open the box' draw!

The match was sponsored by Jones Bros Builders, of Cross Hands, and the match ball sponsors were Simply Gardens, of Narberth, Gary Richards, Building Contractor, Narberth, and Wyn Howells, of Llanboidy.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Narberth have a difficult away fixture at Glamorgan Wanderers.

Narberth fielded: Andy Warner, Daniel Gravell (Nick Jones), Deiniol Evans, Elgan Vittle, Andrew Jones, Simon Daniel, Chris Macdonald (Adrian Killa), Leigh Jones, Craig Hawkins (Simon Delaney), Fifiipuku Faletau, David Ebsworth (Katilimoni Tuipulotu), Emori Katalau, Meurig Daniel, Gary Denver (Jason Jennings) and Gareth Bennett.