PHOTOS:
Steve Martin - scored Narberth's first try
Johnny Morgan - pounced for an interception try for the Otters

 

Championship:

 

Otters win well against the Steel men

Tata Steel 14 - Narberth 24

 
Narberth followed up their excellent home win over Swansea with this equally positive result against Tata Steel, who are  never an easy team to beat in their own back yard but found The Otters ready for the challenge.
 

Much-changed pack plays well – and Steve shines again

 
After making several changes up front to the team which beat the All Whites, including a totally different back row in Jim Kaumaitotoya, Wayne Williams and Lewis Wood, the Otters made a good start as skipper Steve Martin maintained his excellent try-scoring form as a ball went loose in midfield and he swooped to gain possession and sped near to the posts, where outside half Ianto Griffiths added the extra points.
 
Nathan Williams also made a welcome return to the front row alongside regular incumbents Dan Smith and Tom Slater, with Steffan Phillips joining lineout ace Alex Jenkins in the engine room in the absence of Adam Clark.
 

Chances spurned by both teams

 
The Otter pack did well against the home eight and when they won a penalty just inside their own half, up stepped long-distance kicker Nick Gale to land another three points before home outside half Steve Lewis reduced the deficit with a well-struck penalty.
 
Gale had a similar attempt drift wide of the target shortly afterwards and Narberth suffered a set-back when Wood was yellow-carded – but Lewis missed a relatively easy penalty.
 
The Otters also had a last-gasp chance of three points from a straightforward kick but elected for a scrum which came to nothing, leaving the score 10-3 in their favour at the break.
 

Steel Men battle back but the Otters finish strongly

 
The Steelmen started the second period with a try by winger Gareth John and although Lewis missed the conversion he made amends with a penalty to nudge his team a point in front for the first time.
 
Back came the Otters with an excellent opportunist try from full back Johnny Morgan, who showed what a potent force he can be in attack as he broke clear from inside his own half for Griffiths to add the extras.
 
Another Lewis penalty kept Tata in contention but good work up front earned Narberth a penalty try which Griffiths converted to round off a good couple of weeks for Jonathan Dodd’s squad.
 
Narberth:  Johnny Morgan: Nick Gale; Jason Howells; Steve Martin (Capt); Rhys Davies: Ianto Griffiths; Rhys Lane: Nathan Williams; Dan Smith; Tom Slater: Steff Phillips; Alex Jenkins: Jim Kaumaitotoya; Wayne Williams; Lewis Wood. Replacements: Ollie Evans; Steffan Jones; Morgan Griffiths; Ashley Sutton; Richard Rees.
 

 

Division One (West):

Teifisiders take deserved first win

Cardigan 16 - Tycroes 10

 
Cardigan ended 2014 on a hugely positive note as they gained their first win of the season with an excellent all-round performance that saw them home against seventh-placed Tycroes.
 

“The boys have been playing well without any luck,” said club spokesman Tony Mason, “but today we built up a 16-0 lead at half time by playing some good attacking rugby and when Tycroes came back at us, as we knew they would, the whole team defended well and retained possession with some smart rugby.”

 
The Teifisiders’ pack played with fire early on as Will Bryce, Aled Meredith and Richard Jones scrimmaged well and there was excellent ball winning from the back row of Sion Owen, Jonathan Evans and skipper Llyr Griffiths, ably assisted by Tristan Lewis and Dylan Davies.

 
Hard work pays dividends

 
They applied pressure to the Tycroes defence, which conceded penalties in the 9^th, 14^th and 26^th minutes which allowed centre Iestyn Crompton to put Cardigan 9-0 ahead.

Then a series of forward surges saw hooker Meredith being driven over in the left corner and Crompton did well to add the extra points from wide out.
 
Tycroes made a good start to the second period as full back Carwyn Richards slotted a penalty within three minutes and he also converted a penalty try awarded for a scrum offence when Cardigan were temporarily reduced to 14 men.
 
But the Teifisiders regrouped well as Llyr Tobias and Llyr Jones kicked sensible and there was good defensive cover organised by Crompton and Aaron Tomkinson which was supported by wingers Rhydian Jenkins and Sion Jones, plus full back Alun Jenkins, which saw the Teifisiders earn their first victory after eight previous defeats.
 
Cardigan: Alun Jenkins: Rhydian Jenkins; Aaron Tomkinson; Iestyn Crompton; Sion Jones: Llyr Tobias; Llyr Jones: Will Bryce; Aled Meredith; Richard Jones: Tristan Lewis; Dylan Davies: Sion Owen; Jonathan Evans; Llyr Griffiths (Capt).

Llyr Griffiths - led Cardigan to first victory by example