Tata Steel 31 pts. Narberth 35

Narberth travelled to Margam for their Championship League game in the knowledge that they faced a challenging match against a club who have always proved difficult to beat on their home ground.

Saturday was yet another tricky occasion and travelling Otter supporters by the end of the game were overjoyed and breathless from the game they had witnessed.

The Otters had six threequarters injured and also prop Tom Slater. However, Ianto Griffiths, Paul Davies, Liam Hutchings and the half-backs Jonathan Rogers and Rhys Lane were available.

The game commenced in bright sunlight with a deceptively strong north-west breeze. Tata Steel kicked off after a minute’s silence in memory of a past chairman.

Immediately, the Otters attempted to play their way past the halfway line, but the Steelmen were resolute in defence and kept the Otters pegged down in their own half. The referee awarded several scrums where the Otters were able to show their superiority. The exchanges in the loose were at times frenetic and penalties were being awarded to both teams, but on 14 minutes the Steelmen were awarded a penalty just inside the Otters half where they chose to go for the points. Fly-half Callum Bricknell’s kick went right of the posts, although he had the height and distance.

Two minutes later, Tata Steel broke the Otters defence to score near the posts. The Otters had kicked out, which was taken forward by the Steelmen, with number eight Matthew Llewelyn making ground before slipping the ball to centre and captain Bleddyn Davies, who speedily forced his way through the tackles to break clear and score the try, which Callum Bricknell converted.

There seemed to be many infringements at the breakdowns, with the Otters seemingly being the main offenders. On 26 minutes, hooker Dan Smith was sent to the sin bin for what he later claimed to be an accidental trip.

A minute later, the Steelmen took advantage as, with the Otters defence now stretched, the homesters were able to work the ball from left to right, exposing the loss of Dan Smith and allowing prop Chris Thomas, who was positioned on the far side, to have a clear run in to touch down in the far corner. The conversion from an acute angle was achieved by Callum Bricknell.

Two minutes later, Tata Steel had a third try. Again taking advantage of the defensive limitation, and seeing the gap, fullback Jacob Williams was able to speed over again in the far corner for Callum Bricknell to convert.

The score was now 21-0 to the home side and circumstances looked bleak for the Otters. However, they dug in and were able to hold out until Dan Smith returned.

Then before half-time, a very promising move by the Otters failed when a faulty pass ended in touch with the try line at their mercy.

Tata attempted to break out, but were held and the ball kicked into touch for the half-time whistle to be blown at 21-0 to Tata Steel.

The Otters defence was not quite as formidable as of late and some faulty passing indicated a slippery ball, but it was a below par performance first half. The lineout also was not functioning on the Otters ball, suggesting that the strong breeze was affecting the throw. Otter supporters were clear that an early try was necessary in the second half if only to make the score more reasonable.

When the Otters took the field for the second half, changes had been made by the coaches. Jack Parkinson was in the outside centre position, with Joe Hutchings moving to the wing in place of young Gethin Gibby. Ryan Banner replaced Jake Simm in the second row. In addition, Ianto Griffiths moved to fly-half, with Jonathan Rogers replacing him at fullback.

Within three minutes, supporters had their wish when Dan Smith slid over for Narberth’s first try, with Ianto Griffiths making no mistake with the conversion.

The Steelmen had kicked off, the ball was safely gathered by Jonathan Rogers, who kicked the ball into the opposition 22. The Steelmen were forced into touch, and at the lineout, Alex Jenkins claimed the ball, giving good feed to Rhys Lane, who in turn fed Dan Smith for the first of four phases, before he went over for the try.

Five minutes later, the Otters scored their second try when centre Paul Davies went over in the far corner. The Otters were now bursting through the home side, with Ryan Banner and Richard Rees prominent.

The referee awarded a penalty which Jonathan Rogers placed close to the five-metre line. From another good lineout, Alex Jenkins fed Rhys Lane, who linked with Dan Smith, who slipped the ball to Liam Hutchings for him to cut inside, before feeding Paul Davies. Again Ianto Griffiths converted from a difficult angle, and the score was now 21 -14.

The Otters fighting spirit had the home side on the back foot. A third try came again within five minutes. The pack were now firing on all cylinders and a combined move was halted on the Steelmen’s five-metre line. However, the Otters quickly recovered for Joe Hutchings to score and Ianto Griffiths to convert, to bring the scores level at 21-21 after 53 minutes.

It really was a 10-minute blitz by the Otters, who clearly were a different side to the first half.

Tata Steel came back and attacked the far corner away from the sports club and were now playing into the sun. Narberth were penalised at the ruck and fly-half Callum Bricknell kicked to the five-metre line. Safely gathering their throw-in, the Steelmen formed a maul, but the Otters pack were having none of it and successfully countered the ruck, pushing the Steelmen back 10 metres into touch.

Another poor throw resulted in a scrum which the Otters heeled, but the clearance kick was skied, enabling Tata Steel to gather and move across the field. The Otters were penalised and Callum Bricknell regained the lead, with his successful kick putting them 24-21 ahead.

Two minutes later, flanker David Griggs scored a try which Callum Griggs converted, taking the score to 31- 21, giving Tata Steel a bonus point.

The Otters fought back, forcing the Steelmen down field with a number of phases and eventually forcing them back to the five-metre line, where the referee awarded the Otters a scrum, which by now had become uncontested. From the heel, the Otters moved the ball quickly until it reached Liam Hutchings who, seeing a gap, sped over the line to touch down, with Ianto Griffiths again converting.

This brought the Otters within touching distance with the score at 31-28.

Replacement prop Ryan Davies caught the kick out and ran strongly at the Steelmen, with support quickly coming from his colleagues, and then on 73 minutes, prop Bradley Davies forced his way through and found some extra pace to outrun the chasing defence, except the fullback, who he carried over the line with him, scoring under the posts. With Ianto Griffiths again converting, it put the Otters 35-31 in the lead.

Thereafter the Otters showed strength and determination to keep Tata Steel pegged down with a series of rucked ball.

Young Lewys Gibby then came on, replacing Rhys Lane.

In fairness to the Steelmen, they made a determined effort to break out, eventually succeeding, but being held on the halfway line.

Five minutes of injury time was played before Ianto Griffiths was able to end the game by kicking into touch. The whistle was blown and players, officials and supporters were overjoyed by the result, but also by the huge second half performance which showed real character and fighting spirit from the Otters.

Immediately after the game, head coach Sean Gale commented “Obviously we are very happy as a coaching set-up, we went down 21 points to nil, the first quarter of an hour we were pretty good defensively. However, we had a 20-minute spell when we were atrocious, we let them win the gain line, allowing them to run at us. We tackled high, we missed tackles, we had a yellow card and it became particularly difficult for us.

“After a strong talking to at half-time, the boys were absolutely fantastic. We got back to 21-all after 15 minutes and it was still all to play for. Our fitness, the tempo we played at in the second half proved why we are in the second spot in the Championship and it is a position we deserve after a performance like that.

“There were a lot of stand-out performances. Ianto Griffiths went particularly well when he went to outside-half, he really hit the gain line and brought the boys in closer to and once we won that gain, we looked a different team. Jack Parkinson was very good at 13, he brought us a lot of gain line and a bit of dangerous attack. Again Liam Hutchings was superb on the other wing; the one who is playing really well is Bradley Davies. Ryan Banner came on and he made a difference when he carried.

“Overall we are very pleased. It is a tough place to come and win against a very good Tata Steel side. You have to applaud them because they played really well first half and made it very difficult for us. If we had not played as we did, there was a cricket score on there. In fairness to my boys, after a few strong words, they were absolutely superb and they proved they all really care and want to play for Narberth Rugby Club.”

Narberth fielded: Ianto Griffiths, Liam Hutchings, Joe Hutchings, Paul Davies, Gethin Gibby (Jack Parkinson), Jonathan Rogers, Rhys Lane, Bradley Davies, Dan Smith (Rhodri Owen, yellow card replacement), Ryan Rees (Ryan Davies), Jake Simm (Ryan Banner), Alex Jenkins (capt), Dewi Williams, Tom Powell, Richard Rees.