Narberth U15s 10 pts.

This much-postponed Pembrokeshire KO Cup quarter-final was decided on the narrowest of margins and, ironically enough, on the first rainy day for around two weeks.

Mud is a great leveller, and certainly the forward melee was no place for the faint-hearted. Haverfordwest boast an impressive and capable pack and all the more credit to Narberth for achieving a measure of superiority in the scrum.

The line-out however was a different story, and as well as denying them important attacking possession on several occasions, it severely limited their penalty options when a kick to touch was no guarantee of possession.

On another day and in different weather, three or four directly kickable penalties might have swung the game their way, but the heavy ball and slippery conditions posed as many problems in that department as it did for their usual free-flowing style.

In the end the visitors simply coped with the conditions better and deserved their hard-fought win. They took their chances when it mattered, harried in the loose, tackled with commitment and played to their strength, using the sideline as an extra defender – and a good source of possession.

The shape of things to come were there from the start when after 10 minutes of a fierce forward contest, Joe Phelps set off on a chase only to be foiled by the bounce. Next Griff Evans executed a try-saving dive as the Blues kicked through and turned it into an attacking opportunity. But again the atrocious conditions meant spilt ball was the main result.

A penalty attempt went the same way before Haverfordwest closed the half against the run of play with a cleverly taken blindside break from a scrum to score in the corner.

The second half was a perfect opening for Narberth, with Rhys Kemble and Max Goldsworthy punching holes in the defence for Ifan Rees to finish it all off with a fine score.

A comeback was clearly on, but indiscipline cost Narberth their momentum when they were penalised for dissent. Haverfordwest’s kick never got close, but the subsequent attacking position eventually led to a try under the posts and a much easier conversion.

Still Narberth refused to lie down and finally turned possession into points when after a number of phases with ball carriers gaining the hard yards, captain Evans claimed the touchdown.

As the fog descended, an increasingly chaotic game saw both sides miss penalty kicks before the final whistle sent the Blues on their way to the next round.