AFTER an excellent win against Bargoed last week, Narberth quickly realised that if you don’t bring your ‘A’ game to Sardis Road, Pontypridd will take full advantage, writes Robert Lewis.

To be fair, there was little between the teams in the first half but ‘Ponty’ took all their chances whereas the Otters squandered most of theirs.

The home team were first off the mark when after a series of driving mauls by their forwards, the ball was recycled to their fly half who put in an inch perfect cross kick to their right wing who sped over in the corner for a converted try (7-0).

Narberth replied when a break by scrum half, Lewis Gibby, saw wing Harry Fuller in support and he outstripped the defence to score a try in the corner (7-5).

After a penalty against the visitors, Ponty kicked to the corner and from the resulting catch and drive at the lineout 2nd row Joe Miles touched down for a try converted by Jorge Lucey (14-5).

Narberth then had two clear cut opportunities to score when firstly from a set move full back Llew Jones burst through the Ponty defence but supporting Otters backs gave him little assistance and he was eventually brought down metres short of the try line.

Then, a kick from fly half Jonathan Rogers was collected by centre Harrison Griffiths who sprinted upfield but a long-floated pass was adjudged forward and another try scoring opportunity was lost.

Against the run of play, when the visitors were once again pressing close to the Ponty try line, a loose ball was spread wide to the Ponty right wing who brushed the Otters defence aside and ran in from about 70 metres out for another converted try (21-5).

Eventually the Otters did cross the line when a driving lineout saw captain Tom Powell force his way over for a try converted by Rogers (21-12).

After the break, Narberth immediately went on the attack and after recycling the ball on several occasions, the ball came to Rogers with an overlap out wide and the strong possibility of a try scoring opportunity.

Unfortunately, he threw a long pass which was intercepted by the home team wing and he ran a full 80 metres to score a try under the Otters posts which was again converted (28-12).

This was a turning point in the game from which Narberth failed to recover.

They were always chasing the game, and in their eagerness, gave away several penalties which kept them pinned in their half for much of the second period.

To their credit, dogged defence kept the home team out on several occasions but Ponty were able to score one more try from a driving lineout to end with a comfortable 35-12 win.

Narberth seemed to lack the intensity and aggressive defence of their previous outing and need to be at the top of their game when next Saturday they have a home match against a strong Cross Keys team