NARBERTH 39 pts

MAESTEG 28

Narberth maintained their 100 per cent record in National League division two on Saturday with a 39 points to 28 victory over Maesteg.

However, while they were in control for most of the game, the Otters suffered a few lapses in concentration in the final quarter at the Lewis Lloyd ground which allowed the Old Parish in for two late tries which gave the visitors a more flattering scoreline.

With locks Jason Jennings and Emori Katalau dominating in the linesout, the Otters had a workable platform to attack the visitors' line at will, with back row trio of Alan Reynolds, Gareth Bennett and John Bowen playing a key role both in carrying the ball forward and in defence.

After a couple of early chances went begging, Narberth finally made the breakthrough when centre Will Morgan seized on a loose ball and made a break up the right.

Bennett and outside-half Simon Daniel - who picked up the man of the match award - maintained the momentum, allowing wing Andrew Jones to zip over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Maesteg outside-half Matthew Pearce reduced the arrears with a penalty.

Try-scorer Jones was again to the fore when he and prop Alan Phillips created the space to send wing Andrew George over in the corner for a try and Daniel converted from the touchline.

After Pearce sliced a drop goal attempt wide for the Old Parish, Jones was in action for the Otters again, combining with Jennings to send Katalau floating over for a try.

Daniel added the extras and slotted home a penalty for good measure to put the homesters firmly in the driving seat heading towards the break, but a spirited comeback by Maesteg right on 40 minutes saw them reduce the deficit with a Neil Dickson try converted by Pearce.

Pearce and Daniel exchanged penalties after the change around and then Pearce pouched another three-pointer to close the gap.

Fullback Aled Davies then bagged what many - including former international Ken (D. K.) Jones - considered to be the try of the match when he rounded off in fine style after Morgan and replacement prop Fifitapuka Falea made the initial thrust.

Davies crossed for his second going into the final third when more pressure from the Otters created an overlap down the left for the flying fullback to exploit.

Daniel added the conversion to make it 39-16.

The Otters appeared to ease up on the throttle in the closing stages, however, allowing replacement prop Colin Lewis to pick up a brace of tries from close range pressure.

Pearce converted one to make it 39-28 at the close.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Narberth travel to take on Beddau. The game has a 2.30 pm kick-off, with the supporters' bus leaving the clubhouse at 12.15 pm.

Narberth fielded: Aled Davies, Andrew George, Andrew Bowen, Will Morgan, Andrew Jones, Simon Daniel, Lloyd Thomas, Chris Flattery, Kevin Davies, Alan Phillips, Jason Jennings, Emori Katalau, Alan Reynolds, John Bowen, Gareth Bennett.