Top of the table Narberth travelled to Ammanford looking for a bonus point win and this is what they got. On an afternoon when running rugby was at a premium both teams made the effort to entertain both sets of supporters. The game eventually boiled down to the differences in the benches, with the game balanced at 22-27, Narberth were able to bring on mature, experienced players. This along with a sending off for Ammanford took the game away from the home team.

Narberth had outside half Jonathan Rogers and he had a deadly left boot. He soon showed the danger he posed when Narberth were awarded an early penalty which he put over into the wind with ease. Ammanford showed they were not there just to make up the numbers when a lovely, simple move off the base of the scrum put fullback Ceri Rees outside his man. Drawing the last defender he put speedster Elis Lewis away and giving Sam Potter the easiest of conversions. Narberth soon responded and after a series of rucks on the home line the ball was swung wide for the winger to squeeze into the corner. An excellent kick from the touchline sailed over. Within minutes of the restart a loopy pass by Potter was picked off the Narberth centre and a couple of passes later they scored in the corner taking the lead out to 7-17.

Narberth’s pressure led to a successful drive from a 5m line out which pushed the lead up to 7 – 22. Ammanford tried hard in the weather with flanker, Dominic Jones, winning a regular quality supply of ball. Ammanford attacked down the right and a deft kick ahead by Rees was well gathered on the slide by Lewis from the ensuing ruck the ball was moved right allowing centre Kai Richards to slip over to score. This was a good period for Ammanford, and they gave Narberth a bit of their own medicine with a catch and drive from a lineout allowing second row Sion Williams to plop over, Potter added the extras, and the lead was down to three. However, this was short lived when another catch and drive off the lineout extended Narberth’s lead at the half to 19 – 27.

The second half was more of battle between the forwards. Ammanford were first to score through a Potter penalty, but Narberth soon had a penalty of their own. Much of this period of the game was played between the two 22’s. Narberth made several changes which increased the pressure on the home side. A handling error was hacked through by the visitors who won the chase to the ball, from the ensuing ruck the ball was moved left allowing the winger to score in the corner.

With time running out and having hooker Zac Phillips sent off Narberth rubbed salt into the wound scoring off the last passage of play of the game scoring under the posts through a forward drive. Ammanford’s was a spirited effort and are looking forward to next week’s home game against Maesteg Quins.

Final score: Ammanford 22 – 42 Narberth.