Cardiff Met 24 pts. Narberth 27

The Otters travelled to the Cyncoed area of Cardiff, to the university campus, home of Cardiff Met, for their first game in 2017, having ended 2016 on a high.

Changes were made to the squad, with fly-half Ianto Griffiths grounded due to a head injury suffered on the training field, enabling Jonathon Rogers to make his first start since his return from injury.

On the bench was young second row Adam Clarke, a great favourite of Otters supporters who was returning after nearly 12 months absence due to injury.

Pembrokeshire suffered 24 hours of rain the previous day and supporters were surprised to find the university ground looking in reasonable condition. The students fielded a strong squad, with four being members of the current Wales Under 20s squad.

The Met kicked off and the early exchanges revealed the students keen to make their mark, but in the tight the Otters pack had a definite edge, with the front row of Tom Slater, Dan Smith and Lyndon Cooper in control.

Playing his first game at number eight this season, Lawrence Reynolds and also Lyndon Cooper were prominent in the loose.

After 15 minutes, the Otters were awarded a penalty and Nick Gale put them 3-0 ahead.

The Otters were disciplined with their rucking, though both sides used the high ball as the wet surface caused the ball to become greasy. However, Nick Gale and James Stephenson kept them at bay with some high, lengthy kicks.

The Otters’ defence coped well with the attempted students’ forays, until 20 minutes when suddenly their speed of thought and movement created a try for speedy winger Craig Lewis. The move came from a Narberth breakdown. They heeled the ball and scrum-half Rhys Lane fed the ball out, but unfortunately the subsequent pass by the Otters’ threes was spilt and the students, quick as a flash, gained possession and spread the ball from left to right for the right wing to evade the defence and squeeze over in the corner for an unconverted try.

It really was against the run of play, for the Otters looked threatening, but were not able to capitalise on their possession. However, literally from the restart, they ook the lead with a typical Jack Price try. The kick out by Nick Gale was dropped and from the subsequent scrum, the Otters moved forward through phased rugby to the students’ five-metre line where the ball came into the possession of Jack Price and in typical style he forced his way over near the posts for a try, which was converted by Nick Gale.

The Otters maintained their pressure, but the students were quick to turn defence into attack. Rhys Lane was prominent in fielding the high kicks and also used the high ball at the rucks.

Another Otters attack failed when Jonathon Rogers kicked towards Nick Gale, but unfortunately it did not reach its target, ending in touch on the 22. The students successfully collected the ball at the lineout and nearly scored on the stand side corner, but winger Craig Lewis fumbled and knocked-on.

On the half hour, the Otters were awarded a penalty and instead of kicking to the corner chose to kick for points. Unfortunately, Nick Gale was off target.

The student threequarters started to open up the game and they looked threatening with their speed of movement of ball through hand and with quick moving feet.

When the students placed strategic kicks towards the corner flag, Otters captain Alex Jenkins was able to make safe the lineouts, enabling either Rhys Lane or Nick Gale to clear the danger.

The latest high tackle rule introduced by the IRB saw Tom Roberts sent to the sin-bin immediately before half-time. This incident demonstrated the difficulty of a tall player tackling a diminutive player and clearly requires the referees to quickly assess the seriousness of the tackle offence before applying the judgement. Perhaps in this case it was justice when fly-half George Simpson failed with the penalty kick and the referee blew his whistle for half-time with the score 10-5 to the visitors.

The score was a fair reflection of the game, as whilst the students threes looked threatening, in the main the Otters defence was strong and effective. In attack, both Ollie Reynolds and Jack Price put pressure on the students with their forceful running. The back row of Tom Roberts, Laurence Reynolds and Dewi Williams also put in a lot of work and in the tight the Otters had the edge.

On the restart, the Otters again pressurised the students, with Lyndon Cooper and James Stephenson making ground. From a ruck, Ollie Reyland did well to hold a pass which was going over his head and fed it on, only for the move to falter as the greasy ball slipped from outstretched hands.

From the lineout, the students attacked, breaking swiftly forward and, with the ball quickly being distributed infield, the centres broke the Otters’ defence with a clever sidestep and jink for centre Luke Northmore to score an excellent try, with George Simpson converting to give Cardiff Met a 12-10 lead.

A minute later, the Otters had an opportunity to regain the lead, but Nick Gale’s penalty kick which initially looked on target, veered to the left of the posts.

The Narberth coaches introduced Jack Parkinson from the subs bench, replacing James Stephenson at fullback.

Shortly afterwards, the Otters scored a great try. With Rhys Lane breaking forward from a scrum, when challenged he passed to number eight Laurence Reynolds, who was in support on his shoulder, and he was able to put Lane back in the clear to cross the line in the far corner. Nick Gale converted the try from a touchline position.

Again both teams attempted to take the initiative, with the result that tempers frayed and both captains were asked to cool the situation.

The Otters pack showed good control when they created a rolling maul which gained substantial ground.

Shortly after this, Bradley Davies replaced Lyndon Cooper and Sean Jenkins replaced Laurence Reynolds, with Pat Reynolds moving to number eight.

A few minutes later, in a Cardiff Met attack, winger Tom Benjamin managed to slip his tackler. The move started when the students heeled at the scrum, the ball was well worked away from the set-piece and a quick movement saw it reach the winger who, having evaded the tackle, crossed for a try. George Simpson converted to regain the lead at 19-17.

Two minutes later, the students were penalised at a ruck, but Nick Gale failed with his penalty kick.

However, when the Otters were awarded another penalty soon after, this time Jonathon Rogers took the kick and put them back into the lead.

Spirits raised, the Otters attacked, with Rhys Lane enabling Nick Gale to chase, but the ball rolled into touch on the five-metre line. From the lineout, the students were able to kick clear, with the ball rolling into touch on the halfway line.

The lineout formed and Adam Clarke safely took the ball, feeding Rhys Lane, who kicked forward, which the students failed to field. From the scrum, the Otters went through 10 phases, moving forward to reach the posts, where the defence offended, giving the Otters a scrum. The pack had no problem making sure the ball was heeled safely, enabling scrum-half Rhys Lane to feed out to Ollie Reyland, who twisted his way over the line for a try under the posts, which Jonathon Rogers easily converted on 77 minutes.

Rhys Lane was withdrawn to be replaced by Lewys Gibby.

The students fought back with their speedy and tricky runners and when fly-half George Benjamin managed to evade the Otters’ defence, he put Oliver North through to score a try, which the fly-half failed to convert.

This proved the last moment of the game, with the delighted Otters and supporters thrilled with the 27-24 win, which gave them the double over Cardiff Met, which if records are examined may be a first.

The victory was a demonstration of the team spirit within the squad this season. They are playing for each other and are not deterred by falling behind.

At fly-half, Jonathon Rogers started quietly, but developed during the game and was important with his kicking. Both centres with their strong running put pressure on the opposition, forcing them on the back foot and wings Nick Gale and Liam Hutchings chased every kick.

The pack, particularly in the first half, were stronger than the students and second half maintained their discipline.

Later, head coach Sean Gale commented: “Initially we were a bit rusty, but pressure told in the end. We were a bit too powerful for them, despite not being at our best. It was a very good Cardiff Met side and to come to Cardiff in January and keep our winning run going is special. I was very proud of the boys the way they stood up to the task.

“There were a lot of good performances. Alex Jenkins was excellent in the lineout, the two centres were very dominant, while Rhys Lane was, for me, man of the match as he kept the forwards going forward. Pat Roberts also had a very good game.

“We also developed a few lads in this game. Dewi Williams is coming on nicely, while it was good to see Adam Clarke back after a year’s absence.

“We have travelled here many times over the years and lost, so to come here and win is satisfying. We had a chance to win the game and did it well. We were just too powerful for them.”

Narberth fielded: James Stephenson (Jack Parkinson), Nick Gale, Jack Price, Ollie Reyland, Liam Hutchings, Jonathon Rogers, Rhys Lane (Lewys Gibby), Tom Slater, Dan Smith, Lyndon Cooper(Bradley Davies), Jake Simm (Adam Clarke), Alex Jenkins (Capt.), Pat Roberts, Dewi Williams, Lawrence Reynolds (Sean Jenkins).

• Tomorrow (Saturday), Glamorgan Wanderers are the visitors to the Lewis Lloyd, kick-off 2.30 pm.