Glynneath 44 pts. Narberth 22

Narberth played their first Championship League game at Glynneath and with a weakened team were unfortunately found wanting.

It is hard to understand how a team can twice almost beat the league leaders, Bargoed, and yet lose so heavily to a side at the lower end of the league where Glynneath needed a win to maintain consolidation in the league.

Narberth were at one time 19-3 ahead, but finished the first half 10-19 ahead. Perhaps Glynneath having lost 31-20 at the Lewis Lloyd ground initially gave the Otters cautious respect.

The game started with an outstanding penalty kick scored by Nick Gale. There were almost perfect conditions for the game played in glorious sunshine. Nick astounded the Glynneath supporters with a 60-metre kick which sailed over the bar still maintaining height. They were still talking about the kick after the game. At 12 minutes, Glynneath drew level with a Chris Moore penalty. Narberth built up a score with Nick Gale kicking a further three penalties.

At this stage, Glynneath were showing signs that their backs given room could be dangerous with speedy movement and slick passing. However, buoyed by the mounting score, the Narberth pack battled well and forcing errors which were resulting in the penalties.

Then on 25 minutes, Narberth's Alex Jenkins received two knocks to the head and was taken off as a precaution. He was replaced by Calumn Tree. Suddenly, the Otters were failing to win lineouts and were having problems with the scrum. Immediately after the Alex Jenkins incident, Narberth won the ball and Steve Martin made a weaving run through the opposition defence only for the final pass to go astray.

The Glynneath back row began to create problems at the scrum managing to take advantage of the slow heel and harass scrum half Rhys Lane. After Nick Gale kicked his fourth penalty near halftime, Glynneath kicked out, managed to win the ball as it landed, but lost possession when Rhys Lane intercepted the pass and sprinted some 70 metres to score a good try which Nick Gale converted.

Then Glynneath kicked out and again gathered the kick, using their speedy backs passed the ball out for full back Chris Moore to take the final pass far out and show a rare turn of speed to score and also convert to add to his earlier penalty kick to make the score 10-19 as the ref blew his whistle for half-time.

The second half started with Glynneath kicking the ball high into the Otters half with their speedy backs in pursuit and to defensively lay flat at close or near to limits of legality which resulted in stifling the Narberth attacks frequently the centres receiving man and ball. This seemed to be part of their game plan whilst forcing rucks and giving the Otters little room for manoeuvre.

On 46 minutes, Narberth were adjudged to have made a late tackle and fullback Chris Moore added three points to the Glynneath score. At the kick out, the ball was received by Chris Moore who kicked to the corner. Glynneath won the lineout and the ball was passed out for prop Nicky Boyce, no relation to the watching home president, Max Boyce, the prop found himself in the middle of the Narberth 22, for Boyce to unbelievably scamper over the line and touch down near the posts. Chris Moore to easily converted putting the home side in the lead at 20 -19. Two minutes later, Narberth regained the lead with another Nick Gale penalty. This gave the Otters some heart because wing Lawrence Headlum was suddenly racing forward only to to be tackled and Glynneath were able to clear the danger. Narberth's defensive frailty began to show when another Glynneath forward, lock John Barley, was able to barge through and score an unconverted try.

On 65 minutes, the Otters veteran prop Sean Lloyd replaced Ollie Evans and for a while the Narberth scrum looked more secure. Then on 70 minutes, the Otters produced a promising attack which was spearheaded by Lawrence Headlum, with Calumn Tree alongside, receiving the ball Calumn broke clear only to be tackled near the five metre line and adjudged to be lying on the ball awaiting support.

A minute later, Ollie Evans reappeared to replace prop Steffan Jones who was suffering a stomach injury. A minute later, Glynneath, taking a the ball against the head at the scrum, released for lively scrum half Jacapo Tomaselli to feed his number 10 and with precise quick passing, the ball quickly reached speed merchant Steve Stone who outthought Ashley Sutton to score an unconverted try in the corner.

The next Glynneath try came from Ieuan Williams who was far too fast for the Narberth defence, conversion by Chris Moore.

Narberth made further changes Luke Rogers replacing Rhys Lane at scrum half and Zac France-Miller replacing Nio Aioni at flanker and Tom Bonnell replacing the injured Steve Martin.

A minute later with Narberth attacking, a mistake was made and the ball was collected by Glynneath, who with the opposition threes in an attacking position, had an easy run in for a try scored by centre Jordon Griffiths and converted by Chris Moore giving a final score of 44-22. There was one more surge from Narberth when Zac France-Miller broke free, but outstretched his colleagues, the move failing for lack of support.

It could be said the game was a story of two halves, but the Glynneath threat was evident in the first half and but for their errors at the rucks which nullified their efforts and allowed Narberth to build a seemingly threatening lead. Second half, Narberth looked inexperienced and several players seemed to shy away from tackling allowing the speedy Glynneath threequarters to have a memorable game. Narberth problems started at the scrum where through injury they have lost their commanding scrummage power and are also missing a few wise heads in the backs. Whilst the Glynneath supporters happily retired to their members bar, the Narberth supporters spent the next hour debating what had gone wrong.

Afterwards, a very unhappy head coach Sean Gale stated that he was most disappointed that the 19-3 lead turned into a 44 22 defeat commenting Glynneath wanted the ball more than our lads. He highlighted Stuart Worrall, Gareth Bateman, Calumn Tree and Adam Clarke as having given their all, whilst the remainder were found wanting. There were so many missed tackles.

Narberth fielded: Johnny Morgan, Lawrence Headlam, Steve Martin (Tom Bonnell), Nick Gale, Ashley Sutton, Niko Setaro, Rhys Lane (Luke Rogers), Ollie Evans (Sean Lloyd), Dan Smith, Steffan Jones (Ollie Evans, Adam Clarke, Alex Jenkins (Calumn Tree, Nio Aioni (Zac France-Miller), Stuart Worrall, Gareth Bateman.