Pontypool 31 pts. Narberth 16

Two injury time converted tries gave Pontypool a 31-16 home win against Narberth, a scoreline which did not reflect the true nature of this closely contested encounter.

In an end-to-end first half, with an unusual scoring pattern, the lead changed hands six times and the scores were level twice!

Centre Clayton Gullis gave Pooler the lead with a penalty kick from the halfway line after five minutes, but Otters fly-half Ianto Griffiths equalised with a penalty kick two minutes later.

Griffiths extended the lead with a well-judged kick from 42 metres, before Gullis equalised again and then Pooler took the lead following a slightly controversial unconverted try scored by wing Josh Hurley in the left corner.

The Otters players thought that Hurley may have had a foot in touch and there was also an element of doubt as to whether or not the ball was put down cleanly for the try.

Two minutes later, the Otters bounced back with a superb try from a counter-attack involving a real team effort.

The move was initiated by number eight Lewis Wood. After going though a number of hands, lock Alex Jenkins carried the ball up to the Pooler 22.

Although the Pontypool players had regrouped, a clever shimmy by fullback Jonathan Morgan deceived the defenders, when he turned as if to throw the ball out to the threequarters who were lined up to attack.

He then threw everyone, by turning around again and weaved through the Pooler defence and finished off by scoring under the posts following his piece of individual magic.

The conversion by Ianto Griffiths gave the Otters the lead, before Pooler edged in front again with a Gullis penalty.

However, the Otters had the last word before the interval with another penalty from Ianto Griffiths so that his side went into the break with a two points lead.

In contrast, the second half only produced one score before injury time with a Clayton Gullis penalty.

The Otters had opened up gaps in the Pooler defence before the break, but found it tougher in the second half.

It was still anybody's game, but two tries scored in injury time by replacement back row forward Luke Dyckhoff and another replacement, centre Mike Burke, both converted by Gullis, gave Pooler the spoils on the day.

Commenting after the match, Narberth team management spokesman Robert Lewis said: "It was a very good performance by Narberth against a much-changed Pontypool team, who looked much stronger than the team we played at Narberth earlier in the season.

"The Narberth pack played well in all aspects of the game and out-scrummaged their opponents on numerous occasions.

"It was a very good defensive performance by the team, but behind the scrum we need to improve our use of the ball by the threequarters, as once again chances were being created, but not taken.

"The players had put in a lot of hard work, preparing for and playing in this game, but when Pontypool extended their narrow two points lead at the start of injury time, we were playing catch-up.

"As we attacked to pick up an elusive bonus point, gaps opened up and Pontypool took their chance to build up a winning lead."

For Narberth, once again the back row unit of Dylan Richards, Stuart Worrall and Lewis Wood were in excellent form and two young players continue to improve and impress each week, lock Adam Clark and prop Owen Jordan.

Ianto Griffiths varied his play cleverly in the first half and fullback Jonathan Morgan had an excellent game throughout.

Narberth fielded: Jonathan Morgan (Nick Gale), Will Lewis (James Russell), Steve Martin (capt.), Jason Howells, Tomi Jones (Richard Davies), Ianto Griffiths, Rhys Lane, Owen Jordan (Ollie Evans), Dan Smith, Tom Slater, Adam Clark, Alex Jenkins, Dylan Richards, Stuart Worrall (Timoci Kaumaitotoya) and Lewis Wood.