When Nick Gale was a player at Narberth RFC, he became a firm favourite with the fans as he amassed a record number of 1,100 points in 160 games for The Otters that is unlikely ever to be beaten but he decided to leave The Lewis Lloyd Ground because of all the travel for training as well as matches – and return to Llanelli Wanderers, just a stone’s throw away from home.His father Sean, who had also served The Otters brilliantly as head coach, had taken the decision that he needed a change and took over the reins at The Wanderers, whose ground abuts Stradi Park, and the Narberth connection is continued because as well as Nick being the backs’ coach, another former Otter in Steff Phillips coaches the forwards, as well as other ex-Narberth stalwarts in flanker Caine Rees-Jones and hooker Rhodri Owen, playing at hooker and taking on the captaincy role!
Nick certainly hasn’t lost his touch because last weekend saw him play a pivotal role as The Wanderers travelled to The Principality Stadium to play in the WRU Division One Cup Final and he contributed 17 of their 22 points, including the 76th-minute penalty that saw his team ease home after they had been locked on 19-all against a strong and experienced Glynneath side, which plays in Division One (West Central) and had their president Max Boyce cheering them on from the stands!
Fortunes ebb and flow in Cardiff
Nick had also been involved in the opening score of the match as he played at outside centre and made a break down the right touch-line before switching play inside to Steff Phillips and added the conversion – but Glynneath fought back with two penalties from No 10 Dylan Francis.Then it was Nick’s turn to land a brace of penalties before Francis matched him to restrict The Wanderers to a 13-12 interval lead.
The second period was equally hard-fought as Gale slotted two more three-pointers as his forwards went well but in the 74th minute the game took a dramatic turn as Glynneath flanker Josh Morris ploughed over the line and Francis kicked the conversion.
It ensured a nerve-wracking finale where their opponents had their tails up but skipper Owen won a vital turnover 30 metres out, and between the post and corner flag so the penalty attempt was anything but easy, but Nick held his nerve and clean contact with his trusty left boot saw the ball sailing high between the uprights – and The Wanderers were celebrating victory four minutes later!
Still challenges to face for Nick and Co
So now there are six league games left for The Wanderers to try to achieve the coveted double having already secured a promotion place but currently in second spot, a point behind Gorseinon but with two matches in hand.At the moment, Nick’s points’ tally for this campaign stands at 286 points from 22 league and cup matches and it continues some remarkable records when he first set out with Llanelli Wanderers Youth and played senior rugby for them at that early age and helping to win Division Four (West) – and in his first full season at first-team level he broke the club’s scoring record with 314 points.
Nick had hoped Narberth would make it to the Principality Stadium for theire Championship Final but he was really disappointed when they just missed out at the semi-final stage – but as well as playing his heart out for Llanelli Wanderers he readily admits that the first score he wants to find out post-match on Saturdays is how his old pals at The Lewis Lloyd Ground have got on!