Many Otters supporters thought this was the first visit to Narberth by the visitors, but club historian and statistician Ken Mathias informed us in the club programme that they played Narberth in April 1948 in the last game on Bloomfield Meadows after 21 years, before the club moved to its present home at the Lewis Lloyd Ground.

Last Saturday’s match was the final home game of the season for the Otters and prior to the game there were a number of sponsors enjoying a pre-match lunch. In the Balcony Suite there was a 20 year reunion of a Youth team. In the Otters Holt were the club patrons and vice-presidents who had a briefing of the current season’s progress, with its various highs and lows, by director of rugby, Sean Gale.

On arrival, the Maesteg Quins supporters were taken aback by the fine set-up of the ground and clubhouse, a result of the efforts of the then committee and forward-thinking patrons of 30 years or more ago.

Currently, Maesteg Quins lie in ninth place, but have several games in hand and their future in the Championship League is very much in their hands, with four teams being relegated. The Otters, with so many of their players injured, had several permit players in the match day squad.

The Otters kicked off facing upfield, and within three minutes were awarded a penalty for a high tackle, which fullback Ianto Griffiths kicked safely for a three-point lead.

The visitors restarted the game and the Otters looked determined in their attacks, but faltered through errors. From one of their attacking efforts, Maesteg Quins were awarded a penalty which fly-half Tadgh McGuckin safely kicked to bring the score level at three-all.

This spurred on the Quins who began to look much sharper. Clearly they were determined to upset the Otters. Their scrum-half during one of their forays actually crossed over the try-line, but dropped the ball as he attempted to touch down. The referee awarded a five-metre scrum, which the Otters eight safely heeled for number eight Richie Rees to break clear upfield before being laid low in a tackle at a ruck. After treatment he was able to continue.

A further scrum was set outside the five-metre line and Maesteg Quins were able to slip the ball to left wing Alex Griffiths who evaded several tackles to touch down for an unconverted try, which gave the visitors an 8-3 lead.

The Otters restarted the game kicking well into the visitors half who gathered and kicked long, which was fielded by Ianto Griffiths. He ran forward until stopped, with a ruck forming. Immediately Richie Rees collected the ball and raced forward, but had limited support and consequently was brought down.

The Otters showed some spirit and reaching the five- metre line were halted. However, at the lineout, a yellow card was issued to a Quins player on 26 minutes. Jonathan Rogers placed the ball into touch and a lineout formed. The Otters’ pack gained clean ball and formed a rolling maul, before releasing the ball to Jonathan Rogers, who kicked towards the corner, where wing Yannick Parker gathered it and quickly crossed the line to touch down.

The referee indicated an opponent’s hand had foiled the touchdown and then issued a yellow card, which it is assumed was for taking down the rolling maul. Taking advantage of the resulting penalty, Jonathan Rogers kicked towards the corner on the clubhouse side. At the lineout, Roy Osborne caught the throw cleanly and another rolling maul formed. This was stopped by Maesteg Quins by taking down one of the Otters along with their player, causing the maul to collapse. The visitors gained the ball and put in a relieving kick to touch.

From the lineout, the Otters advanced and at the breakdown Maesteg Quins were penalised for interfering. Ianto Griffiths came forward and placed his 30-metre kick between the posts, bringing the score on 34 minutes to 6-8.

From the kick-off, the Otters advanced back into their opponents’ half with a series of pick and drives, until the Maesteg Quins again were penalised for aggressive incidents. The referee had a long talk with their captain, before awarding the penalty, which Ianto Griffiths again safely placed through the middle of the posts, putting the Otters back in the lead at 9 -8.

From the restart, the Otters gathered the ball, then fed Jonathan Rogers, who again produced a long, high kick, which was fumbled by the receiver and followed by obstruction by Maesteg Quins. This time the penalty kick hit the post. Maesteg collected the ball and placed it in touch for the referee to blow for half-time.

Whilst the Otters had regained the lead before he break, they were not at their best, lacking a bit of focus, with dropped passes and not driving forward with their normal urgency. On the other hand, Maesteg Quins were determined to try and get points, but at times their discipline let them down following some illegal tactics for which they were being penalised.

Clearly at half-time, the Otters were given some home truths by the coaches, for on return to the game, they scored a converted try within four minutes. The try was well-executed. On the opponents 40-metre line, the ball reached Jack Price who, in inimitable style, created pressure on the Maesteg Quins defence with his forceful running. Outside him was flanker Tom Powell, who quickly sped forward, before releasing winger Gethin Gibby, who, when challenged, passed inside to the supporting Tom Powell and in turn, when challenged, he again fed Gethin Gibby, who sped like a stag down the far touchline to cross for a great try. Ianto Griffiths, with careful focus, made sure with his conversion, giving the Otters a 16-lead.

Maesteg came back strongly, but the game remained tight, with both defences holding firm.

A potential Otters try was lost when from a scrum, Rhys Lane fed Jonathan Rogers, who found Jack Price with his long passing, and he spotted a gap and made a break downfield, only to spoil his initiative with a forward pass which enabled Maesteg to reset themselves.

It was Maesteg Quins’ turn to attempt to break out of their half, only for Gethin Gibby to knock-on when attempting to intercept a pass. The referee decided it was worth a yellow card on 55 minutes.

At this moment, the Otters brought on the experienced Dan Smith for the hard working Rhodri Owen and also in the front row Bradley Davies replaced Dan Jacobs.

In the following 10 minutes, in one of the Otters’ movements, Rhys Lane made a fine break before passing to the supporting Richie Rees, who was tackled and for the opposition to be penalised. Jonathan Rogers placed the ball onto the 22. The Otters in numbers followed through, but lost the ball in a strong tackle. This time the Otters were penalised and were put back to the clubhouse corner by Maesteg Quins.

At this point, the Otters made a further change, with Lewys Gibby replacing Rhys Lane at scrum-half.

With the ball ending in touch, at the lineout the opposition set up a series of pick and charge phases, with the ball eventually reaching wing Alex Griffiths, who crossed the line to touch down, only for the referee to bring him back for a forward pass.

The Otters scrummaged on the five-metre line and were able to gain relief to their 22.

Young Llew Jones was introduced, replacing try scorer Gethin Gibby on 72 minutes.

The Otters proceded further down field, but Maesteg regained the ball and set up a move when the referee awarded them a penalty with the Otters going offside. Fly-half Tadgh McGuckin kicked from 40 metres to add three points.

The game ended shortly afterwards, with Jonathan Rogers, in his 22, putting the ball out of play in the knowledge that full time had been reached.

This was meant to have been an easier win, but with the squad fielding newcomers and Maesteg desperate for a win, the Otters and supporters had to be content with the win without bonus points.

There were highlights, with a fine try and sterling performances by Tom Powell, Richie Rees, with Ianto Griffiths kicking the points and Jonathan Rogers making good use of his long kicks. Jack Price was heavily marked, but still managed to prove his worth.

Whilst the Otters have played their final home game, they will travel in three weeks time on Saturday, April 27, to Maesteg to play the same opponents in their final game which had to be rearranged due to bad weather back at the beginning of February. It is hoped that, with a three-week gap, some of the injured Otters will be able to return and the coaches field a stronger squad.

Narberth fielded: Ianto Griffiths, Yannick Parker, Jack Price, Jake Jenkins, Gethin Gibby (Llew Jones), Jonathan Rogers, Rhys Lane (Lewys Gibby), Dan Jacobs, Rhodri Owen (Dan Smith), Gareth Harvard, Roy Osborne, Alex Jenkins (capt.), Dewi Williams, Tom Powell, Richie Rees.