OTTERS SUFFER LAST-GASP WOE
NARBERTH suffered an agonising 28-25 defeat to last season’s Admiral Championship winners Bargoed.
The Otters opened the scoring after a charging run from prop Bradley Davies. The ball was spread to centre Hedd Nicholas and he cut inside his opposite number and passed to midfield partner Ilan Phillips, who scored near the posts.
Full-back Nick Gale converted. Narberth suffered two early setbacks, with prop Lewis Davies pulling a hamstring and Gale leaving the field with a head injury.
The hosts conceded a penalty in front of the posts which Bargoed landed to narrow the deficit.
Shortly afterwards Bargoed took the lead when they scored in the corner. But Narberth hit back when flyhalf Jonathan Rogers landed a penalty.
The Otters paid for some loose kicks out of defence, with the visitors counter-attacking purposefully and their lock crossing near the posts for a converted try.
After the break, Otters lock Alex Jenkins was denied a try with the referee unable to see if he had grounded the ball, then somewhat against the run of play Bargoed extended their lead to eight points with a penalty.
But Narberth refused to give up and a dazzling run by Ashley Sutton saw him outpace the defence, step inside the full-back and score in the corner.
Bargoed responded with a penalty to stretch the lead to six points.
But within minutes Narberth were back in front. Bargoed were pressing near the line when a long pass was intercepted by home wing Jordan Roberts, and he sprinted the length of the field, only to be collared by a tackler a metre from the try line.
The referee immediately awarded a penalty try for a high tackle, a decision which put the Otters 22-21 ahead.
In injury time Rogers kicked a further penalty to stretch the lead to 2521.
But hopes of a famous home victory were ended as the referee played 12 minutes of injury time, with Bargoed launching a last-ditch attack.
Their centre was tackled beneath the stand and spilled the ball, but the referee waved play on and a visiting wing gathered and cantered beneath the posts for the clinching try.
Meanwhile, Llangennech got their Division 1 Cup programme under way with a 32-17 win over Kenfig Hill in Group H.
But Llanelli Wanderers went down 30-21 at home to Bridgend Athletic.
Gowerton beat Skewen 24-18 in Group I, but Yr Hendy lost at home to Waunarlwydd.
Felinfoel and Crymych lost their games in Group J. Brynaman pipped Pembroke 25-24 in Group K, but Gorseinon lost at home to Birchgrove.
There were wins for Ammanford and Newcastle Emlyn in Group L.