Beddau 29 pts. Narberth 28

On Saturday, Narberth travelled to Beddau RFC who at the beginning of the week had received the tragic news of the death of one of their players who was only 21 years of age. It was mentioned that he had played his very first senior league match against Narberth RFC.

The day was full of emotion and a band of over 70 friends and colleagues turned out in tee-shirts with the words ‘For Tom’ emblazoned thereon who formed a guard of honour for Tom’s parents and relatives and the players immediately prior to kick-off where there was a minute’s silence and thereafter a minute of clapping.

The game started at a frenetic pace and at only the second lineout of the game, Alex Jenkins took the ball cleanly and burst through the middle towards the Beddau line. When approached by the fullback, he slipped a pass inside to the supporting Dan Smith, who galloped in from 30 metres out. Nick Gale failed with the conversion attempt.

Ten minutes later, Narberth infringed at a ruck and the Beddau number 10, David Francis, kicked the penalty from about 35 metres out.

Shortly afterwards, Beddau failed to release the ball at a ruck and Nick Gale kicked the penalty to make the score 8-3 to the Otters.

At this stage, Narberth were getting the upper hand by controlling the game and keeping possession of the ball. From a sweeping move within their own 22, they moved the ball wide to fullback Nick Gale, who went round his man and then passed to winger Neil Hutchins, who sprinted into the Beddau 22. When tackled, he managed to slip the ball inside with a perfectly timed pass to centre Ollie Reyland, who crashed over the try line. Nick Gale kicked the conversion to make it 15-3.

With 15 minutes to go to half-time, Narberth were looking quite comfortable, but then everything changed. A stream of penalties were awarded to Beddau for various infringements of offside, not releasing the ball, dropping or wheeling the scrum, which confused both Narberth players and coaches alike.

Alex Jenkins then received a yellow card and during his absence from the field the Beddau pack took control and scored two tries, one of which was converted by David Francis to level it up at 15-15.

Half-time arrived and matters soon got worse for Narberth. Five minutes into the second half, they were once again penalised. Beddau kicked to the corner and from the lineout Narberth were again penalised for pulling the lineout down. At the next line-out, Narberth drove the Beddau forwards back and a scuffle arose, with various players throwing punches. The outcome was that Narberth prop, Bradley Davies, received a red card and the Beddau second row a yellow card.

From a further penalty and ensuing lineout, Beddau once again scored a converted try to make it 22-15.

With Alex Jenkins returning to the field, Narberth got back some of their composure and again managed to work their way into the Beddau half.

To ironic cheers from the Narberth supporters, the Otters were at last awarded a penalty from a Beddau infringement and Jonathan Rodgers was successful with the kick (22-18).

After getting back into the game, Narberth were guilty of some slack defence which resulted in the Beddau fullback scoring a try which was again converted by Francis.

At 29-18, the game now looked lost, but the Narberth players were not prepared to give in. With 10 minutes to go it was Beddau’s turn to incur the referee’s wrath and their centre received a yellow card for stopping Narberth getting quick ball at a ruck.

Narberth attacked at every opportunity and from a quickly taken penalty Nick Gale received an inside pass and sped over the line near the posts. Unfortunately, Ianto Griffiths hit the post with the conversion attempt.

With two minutes to go, Narberth again ran the ball deep out of defence, with centre Jack Price running 30 metres upfield towards the Beddau 10-metre line. The supporting forwards took the ball on to the Beddau 22 and from the ensuing ruck it was quickly fed to the blind-side, where Nick Gale was on hand to give the scoring pass to winger Gethin Gibby, who dived over in the corner.

With the last kick of the game, Nick Gale’s conversion attempt sailed just wide of the left-hand post to bring the final score to 29-28 in Beddau’s favour.

Despite the disappointment of losing the game, Narberth picked up two valuable points by scoring four tries and losing by less than seven points.

Narberth team: Bradley Davies (Aaron Maine 50 mins), Dan Smith, Tom Slater, Jake Simm (Adam Clarke 60 mins), Alex Jenkins, Dewi Williams, Sean Jenkins, Callum Tree (Lewis Wood 60 mins), Rhys Lane (Lewys Gibby 65 mins), Jonathan Rodgers (Ianto Griffiths 65 mins), Liam Hutchins, Ollie Reyland, Jack Price, Gethin Gibby and Nick Gale.

The next home game Narberth have is an attractive fixture against Premier league Carmarthen Quins on Saturday, February 18, kick-off 2.30 pm, in the second round of the WRU National Cup competition.