The Otters travelled to Bargoed knowing they faced a real challenge from a club relegated from the Premiership who strengthened their squad close season and who are unbeaten and are second place in the Championship.

The Parc Bargoed ground was in reasonable condition despite the wet weather. The Otters were led onto the field by Alex Jenkins and, being aware of the heavy Bargoed pack, fielded the strongest players available for the game.

Within minutes both packs were penalised at the breakdowni; it was an indication of the referee’s attention to the rucks.

After five minutes, Bargoed opened the scoring with a well-taken penalty by fly-half Steffan Jones as a result of a high tackle.

Both teams then attempted a kicking duel, with finally the Otters misfielding and it almost turned into a Bargoed try, only the winger’s foot landed in touch.

Bargoed’s fly-half, working to a game plan, attempted to free both wingers with well--placed kicks, but the Otters were well able to quell the potential threat.

At the lineout Narberth were pressurised and Bargoed, on 10 minutes, scored their first try when they set up a Gwent-type speciality with a rolling maul and, despite significant efforts by the Otters to halt its progress, they crossed the line for flanker Ronny Kynes to drop on the ball. Steffan Jones converted.

A few minutes later, the Otters had a penalty some 45 metres from the posts, but Nick Gale was unable to turn it into points.

It was 16 minutes before spectators witnessed the first scrum. The Bargoed pack put in a mighty effort, but the Otters managed to heel the ball, but giving scrum-half Lewys, Gibby a pressure situation.

The Otters were defending well, with Bargoed attempting to raise their game, but being defeated by the Otters defence. Both sides continued to be penalised at the breakdowns.

On 25 minutes, Bargoed replaced second row James Locke with Mathew Thomas off the subs bench.

The Bargoed pack held the Otters and heeled, but their attempt to run with the ball ended with a knock-on.

Slowly with their ability to halt the Bargoed attacks, the Otters began to see more of the ball. On 35 minutes, a strong Otters attack was halted by a knock-on in the tackle. Then a further attack saw fullback Nick Gale making significant ground, only to be halted five metres from the line.

A problem in the Otters attacks seemed to be an inability to break down the Bargoed defence at this stage. Then their persistence was rewarded with a 35-metre penalty which Nick Gale kicked finding the target and providing the Otters with three points on 39 minutes.

The Otters began to open up gaps and were able to put pressure Bargoed. Nick Gale put in a kick to near the far corner which eventually crossed the line and Bargoed had to minor.

Playing injury time, the Otters added a further three points with another finely judged penalty by Nick Gale on 44 minutes.

A minute later, the referee blew for half-time with the score at 10-6.

The few Otter spectators who made the journey felt the team had turned the corner and were seeing more ball and beginning to attempt to break down the Bargoed Bulls defence.

The Otters restarted the game with Lewys Gibby breaking forward and reaching the five-metre line. Unfortunately, he outpaced his colleagues and unfortunately knocked-on in the tackle.

At the subsequent scrum, Bargoed applied a huge effort pushing the Otters back and being awarded a penalty for their efforts. The kick took play to halfway and from their lineout they attempted to use the rolling maul, but were forced by the Otters efforts to release the ball, only to be halted by some strong tackling.

The Otters replaced Lewys Gibby with Rhys Lane.

The Bargoed fly-half also had to leave the field with a blood injury.

On 46 minutes, Bargoed scored their second try. They had kicked to the Otters 22 and stealing the lineout moved swiftly across field, releasing wing James Leadbetter who raced over the line to touch down. Fullback Josh Prosser converted.

Four minutes later they were awarded a penalty at the breakdown, Bargoed kicked into touch, reaching the Otters 22. From the lineout, they set up a rolling maul and this time the Otters were unable to stop the home pack, with Ronny Kynes scoring under the posts and Josh Prosser again converting.

Bargoed came back into the Otters half, but were penalised at the ruck. Nick Gale relieved the pressure, with his kick placing the ball into the Bargoed half. Bargoed again came back and, kicking ahead the ball crossed the Otters try, line for Josh Davies to minor.

This gave the Bulls a five-metre scrum, from which experienced number eight Adam Powell was able to force his way over for another try on 55 minutes. Josh Prosser again converted bringing the score to 31-6.

At this stage, Dan Smith replaced Rhodri Owen. Nick Gale had to leave the field with a muscle pull, with Ianto Griffiths taking over at fullback.

Within five minutes, Bargoed set up yet another rolling maul and crossed the line with second row substitute Mathew Thomas touching down, again converted by Josh Prosser.

The Otters attempted to gain ground, but were stopped by a high tackle, Jonathan Rogers kicking the penalty to within 10 metres of the try line. From the lineout, they went through a few phases before being awarded another penalty. Jonathan Rogers kicked to the corner. Unfortunately the ball was misfielded at the lineout, with Bargoed being awarded a penalty, enabling them to move back into the Otters half and up to the 22.

On 75 minutes they scored their penultimate try. They were able to move the ball quickly and with a change of direction opened up the Otters’ defence for nippy winger Duane Dyer to speed over and score. Steffan Jones returned to kicking duty to convert.

Four minutes later, Dyer scored again with the Otters’ defence in disarray. Again Steffan Jones converted, giving Bargoed a convincing win with the final score 52-6. Otter members and supporter were disappointed after witnessing a promising first half.

Director of Rugby Sean Gale summed up the game: “In my opinion they came at us at the beginning of the game, they defended particularly well and then we had the next 25 minutes and we built a lot of pressure, our skill level was good, our retention was very good and when we broke for half-time I thought we had a chance. We started well second half and had we got a try it would have put us in a happy place, but unfortunately we let them drive from the lineouts, but we stopped them. Then we tired a bit and our concentration dropped. The thing that was disappointing was when we leaked a try at the end. When you look at Bargoed, they are a very good team. They have boys coming in from the Dragons and from the top three sides of the Championship. Their budget is four or five times greater than ours, so it is difficult, but I thought we played well for 50 minutes. For 30 minutes of the game we dropped off which was a bit disappointing. We missed a few one-on-one tackles and the set-piece in the last 20 minutes. We need to work harder to stay in the game longer.

“On performances, I thought Jake Baker went very well, Bradley Davies carried very hard, his work ethic was fantastic, Josh Davies is definitely a danger behind. So it is disappointing that we leaked the tries, but there are positives to work on without a shadow of doubt.”

Narberth fielded: Nick Gale (Ianto Griffiths), Josh Davies, Joe Hutchings, Jake Jenkins, Elliot Dawe, Jonathan Rogers. Lewys Gibby (Rhys Lane), Bradley Davies Dan Jacobs), Rhodri Owens (Dan Smith), Tom Slater, Jake Baker, Alex Jenkins (Capt), Dewi Williams (Steffan Phillips), Tom Powell, Roy Osborrn.