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Narberth came away from their encounter with Neath at the Lewis Lloyd Ground on Saturday (March 8th) as a last minute length of the field interception hat trick try from man of the match, full back, Iestyn Morgan saw the All Blacks win the Championship encounter 31-21, the result perhaps epitomising the way Narberth, who scored three tries, played all afternoon, in difficult conditions dominated by a swirling wind blowing towards the Town end.

Narberth were pushing for a final try which would have given them a bonus point victory as they strived to lift themselves out of the relegation zone, replacement outside half Jonathan Rogers had a storming second half to put his side within touching distance of victory but as he endeavoured to move the ball wide to stretch the game, his miss pass was intercepted and with no cover to make amends, the talented pivot looked a forlorn figure when referee Nathan James from Pontypool drew the game to a conclusion immediately after Morgan converted his own try.

Narberth drew first blood as lock Wil Blackburn took lineout ball, fellow second row Sam Martin combing with Number 8 Roy Osborne, the skippers powerful drive set up debutant scrum half Lucca Setaro to snipe over from ten metres, Osian Evans converting for 7-0. The lead lasted for seven minutes, prop forward Tarik Debah plundered over after excellent ground work and driving from second row Cai Arnold, after boiler house partner Matthew Davies secured line out possession. Dynamic blindside flanker Casey Willimas touched down before the game had progressed into the second quarter after fellow flanker Gethin Tremlett and his skipper, number 8 Ben Williams linked well to support centre Sean Wilcox incision into the Otters defence, Steff Williams kicking the extras for 12-7. Morgan crossed for his second touchdown of the game and Willimas converted for a halftime scoreline of 19-7, Narberth lamenting missed tackles which allowed Neath territory and handling errors, which cost the home side possession.

Roger’s arrival saw him take a lead role, his decision making and vision disrupting the visitors battle plan, Narberth capitalising as they were able to run back possession through pacey full back Llew Jones, centre Mathew John and winger Dean James, the left winger reducing the score to 19-14 after a Rogers conversion with twenty five minutes to play, Osborn a leading light in setting the baseline upfront for Rogers to move his back division to success.

The next score was going to be crucial to the outcome of the game, Narberth front row of Tom Kaijaks, hooker Tom Clarke and Guto Jones can be rightly proud of their efforts to gain parity, and they were replaced with fifteen minutes to play, former Welsh international Rob Evans one of those entering the fray. As players tired the penalty count mounted, referee James consistent throughout the afternoon in his decision making, even if his decision not to award a home try with bodies over the ball, irked the partisan crowd.

Neath, a club with a rich history at the top table of Welsh rugby took the game into the final ten minutes by extending the lead to 24-14 with a bonus point try from replacement prop Ben Uphill, the Otters motivated to keep their efforts high in the search for a minimum, bonus point. Teenage replacement Jac Bennett’s first touch of the ball saw him take clean line out ball on the Neath 10 metre line, the second row feeding a fast moving Setaro and the ball was worked wide for influential centre John to glide over and Rogers to set the game up at 24-21.

In what was the final play of the game the home pack had taken the ball out of their own 22 and Rogers was put on the front foot by the home side man of the match Setaro, the outside half’s floated missed pass was picked off by the Neath skipper which allowed Morgan to enter the line at speed and cross in front of a vociferous band of Neef supporters in front of the clubhouse.

To take nothing from the fixture would be frustrating for head honcho Liam Gadd and his coaching team following the drama of the final play, but they can take heart to have six games remaining in their first season in the Welsh Premiership, the next game another home fixture on Saturday (Mar 22) against Bonymaen, who sit on the same points as the Otters, the blue and blacks also having against rock bottom Newcastle Emlyn remaining.

Narberth

Llew Jones; Mathew Johns; Ifan Phillips; Hedd Nicholas; Dean James; Osian Evans; Lucca Setaro; Tom Kaijaks; Tom Clarke; Guto Jones; Will Blackburn; Sam Martin; Josh Hamer; Sam Davies; Roy Osborn ©️:

Replacements:
Rob Evans; Kyle Hamer; Tom Slater; Rhys Williams; Jac Bennett; Will Hurley; Jonathan Rogers; Rhys Harries:
Neath

Neath

Iestyn Morgan; Rhodri Wall; Sean Wilcox; Corum Noot; Steff Williams; Connor Tantum; Mason Morgan; Kian Jones; Tarik Dabeh; Matthew Davies; Cai Arnold; Casy Williams; Gethin Tremlett; Ben Williams ©️:

Replacements:
Evan Kneath; Josh Jones; Ben Uphill; Jon Barley; Owain Morgan; Ellis Lewis; Jon Bayliss; Kieran Charles:

Referee: Nathan James (Pontypool)
Assistant: Jonathan Hardy (Pontyberem)

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