WRU Championship
Newcastle Emlyn 3 Narberth 15
A first win of the season for Newcastle Emlyn must be just around the corner if this performance is a gauge as the red and whites played some excellent rugby at times but were denied any sort of reward right at the death.
When Narberth replacement full back Nick Gale won the race to touch down for a converted try deep into injury time, he denied the depleted home side what would have been a fully deserved losing bonus point.
There was very little to choose between the teams for most of this pulsating encounter with Emlyn rising to the occasion despite their long list of injuries and with a bit of luck they could have got something out of this game.
Talented full back Shaun Leonard returned to the ranks after a lengthy spell out with a knee injury and his powerful boot enabled Emlyn to return a number of Narberth kicks long. The defensive work of Leonard working well with his two wingers, both returning from injury, Llyr Davies and Llyr Freeman, meant that Narberth were unable to sustain a regular foothold in the home twenty two.It was the Otters who opened the scoring when full back Ianto Griffiths slotted over a penalty but the red and whites with skipper Alex Williams to the fore continually led the way with some powerful carries and they levelled matters when Leonard kicked a huge penalty goal.
The last ten minutes of the half was virtually all Emlyn with second row Bleddyn Davies, prop Lewys Jonathan, hooker Lee Griffiths, and number eight Gareth Thomson all prominent. The hosts enjoyed two further penalty attempts with outside half Arthur Lennon going close and the other by Shaun Leonard hitting the woodwork.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with defences very much on top but Emlyn outside centre Teifion Davies went close when he made a superb break and looked certain to score only for him to be brought down by a crunching tackle.
Narberth came back and from a turnover they slipped the ball to winger Gethin Gibby who flew over in the corner for an unconverted try, very much against the run of play.
As the game went into injury time there was little in it and the red and whites looked set for at least a losing bonus point until replacement full back Nick Gale was first to claim a chip ahead to score a try converted by Griffiths to deny Emlyn.
Pics by Julie John.
