OTTERS GIVE TITLE HOPEFULS A FRIGHT
NARBERTH delivered a superb performance before going down 31-25 to Bedwas in the Admiral National Championship.
It was Bedwas’s ninth win of the season and keeps them in second place. Narberth lie seventh, having won half of their 10 games.
Within minutes of the start Bedwas had points on the board when they scored a try from a line-out. Fly-half Dion Mcintosh converted.
Ten minutes later the Otters got back into the game when centre Jake Jenkins intercepted a pass on halfway and ran under the posts to score. Fly-half Ashley Sutton converted.
Narberth got their noses in front when Sutton kicked a penalty, but the lead was short-lived as Bedwas full-back Hamish Anderson kicked ahead and won the race for the touchdown. Mcintosh converted.
Another home try extended the lead, but Narberth replied when right wing Josh Davies burst through three tackles to score in the corner.
Mcintosh kicked a penalty to extend Bedwas’s lead, but the Otters rallied. No. 9 George Macdonald forced his way over the line after a seried of five-metre scrums. Sutton added the conversion, then landed a penalty to put the visitors ahead.
But a rare missed tackle in midfield allowed Bedwas centre Dafydd Thomas to score under the posts. Mcintosh converted and Narberth had to be satisfied with a losing bonus point.
The Otters head to Glamorgan Wanderers this Saturday.
Meanwhile, there is a change at the top of One West with Newcastle Emlyn now standing at the summit.
Title-chasing Emlyn made it six league wins out of six this season with a hard-fought 30-26 triumph at Llanelli Wanderers.
They are now a point clear at the top.
Yr Hendy, who started the weekend on top of the table, were beaten 13-10 at Crymych.
Tomos Phillips scored a crucial try for the hosts.
Adam Phillips chipped in with a conversion, penalty and drop-goal as Crymych moved into third.
Llangennech, who sit fourth, are unbeaten and have games in hand on the sides above them.
Gorseinon climbed to sixth thanks to a comfortable 38-7 win over Penclawdd.
Burry Port struck a crucial blow in the Two West title race as they claimed a 22-16 win at leaders Nantgaredig. Port are now just two points behind Nant and have three games in hand.
Third-placed Pontarddulais were pushed all the way by bottom side Loughor before claiming a 24-19 victory, while Kidwelly eased past Gwendraeth Valley rivals Pontyberem 61-7.
Carmarthen Athletic lost 12-10 at Milford Haven and Tycroes beat Mumbles 25-23.
In-form Llandybie held on to second place in Three West B as they won 9-7 at Amman United in a fullblooded local derby.
Llandybie, with the wind at their backs, took the lead when lock Garin Criddell made a fine charging run which earned a penalty.
Fly-half Chris Howell slotted it over.
A number of flare-ups peppered the first half and the referee lost patience on the half-hour mark when he issued two cards – a yellow to Amman’s Craig Ratcliff and a red for Llandybie’s Nathanial Butler.
However, the 14 men ended the half on a high as Howell’s break almost carved out a try, only for the excellent Alun Lewis’s last-gasp tackle to save the day for United.
But a second Howell penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Llandybie began the second half as they had ended the first and extended their advantage when Howell landed his third penalty.
In the final quarter Amman began to make the extra man count. Tom Thorneycroft was stopped just short of the line and wing Liam Danter failed to take a pass with the line beckoning.
But Amman’s relentless pressure told when scrum-half Joel Foster burrowed over for a try with four minutes remaining.
Centre Jason Richards added the conversion but the visitors held out for a crucial win.
Amman host New Dock Stars on Saturday, while second-placed Llandybie travel to third-placed Cefneithin.
Tumble remain top of the table thanks to their thrilling 42-33 win at Furnace United. Trimsaran beat Betws 29-6 in the other game.
Cwmgors are still looking for their second victory of the season after being beaten 55-10 by Taibach in Three West Central A.
The Port Talbot side dominated the opening half, opening up a 28-0 lead before Cwmgors hit back with a try in the corner by Steff Phillips.
Taibach added five more tries after the break, though the Cherries claimed a deserved consolation score through Owen Wright.