Rob and Ken compile a cracking team for The Otters!

Robert ‘Basher’ Lewis has served Narberth as a fine player (on the wing) and even better team manager, working with Jonathan Dodd and then Sean Gale for many seasons in that role.

So ‘Basher’ was the obvious choice for us to ask to choose a ‘select’ side and he showed his canniness by asking Ken Mathias to help out with vital statistics. Now it is fair to say that as the club’s outstanding historian and record keeper no-one knows more about The Otters over the two decades (thanks Ken!) – and their combined effort shows a very interesting choice of players and possible replacements!





 

HERE THEY ARE:

Pace aplenty at full back and on the wing

“Roger Davies was a product of Narberth Youth and one of the most talented backs to have played for the club in the No 15 jersey – and scored many outstanding tries with his elusive running and excellent reading of the game. He played for Wales Youth but unfortunately his rugby career was ended in its prime on medical advice.

“On the wing, Andrew Jones joined Narberth from Llanelli Development squad for the 2001 season and proved to be a very dangerous finisher with his pace and elusive running. He was devastating in one on one situations and he was Narberth's record try scorer in league games in a season in the Heineken leagues with 25.

 “John Whitticombe began his rugby time with Narberth at the start of the 2000 season and soon established himself on the wing as a real threat to the opposition as a direct runner with great pace but was also a sound defender. He had the ability to pop up anywhere and shares the record for the club’s top try scorer in a Heineken League game with six tries.
 

Power and pace at centre

“Andrew Bowen played all his rugby with Narberth and in all played 200 league games for the club. A powerful ball carrier and excellent defence saw him well suited to the competitive Heineken leagues and his power tested the strongest of defences as he was able to break defensive lines and supply scoring passes for others.

“Steve Martin joined Narberth in the 2005-06 season from Neyland and remained with The Otters until the end of the 2015-16 season having played 212 league games. He gave tremendous service over those seasons and was captain of the Club in three of them. He was a very talented player, hard as nails and never shirked a tackle, but also deceptively quick with his arcing runs - and was the club’s top try scorer over several seasons.
 

The perfect pairing at half back

“Simon Daniel was possibly the finest outside half that has played for Narberth after joining us from Dunvant at the start of the 2001 season. He went on to captain the club and holds the club records for scoring the highest number of points in a game (with 33) and the most points in a Heineken season (with 353). He really had the talent to have played at a much higher level.

“Chris MacDonald was another product of Narberth Juniors who went on to play 252 league games for us.  He was a very skilful and abrasive player who enjoyed taking on the opposition, no matter how big they were, especially from attacking scrum fives and quick tapped penalties. ‘Mac’ captained the Club and also played for Swansea, Llanelli, and the British Police sides.

 

Powerful props and long-serving hooker

“Justin Hughes joined Narberth from Llanelli for the 2003 season and he went on to become one of the mainstays of the Narberth pack for almost a decade. He was a very astute tactician for a prop and his vast experience was invaluable to the younger players. He captained the club during the 2008 season and used his wealth of experience in guiding younger players - and in all played 108 league games for the Club.

“Dan Smith joined Narberth from Carmarthen Quins in 2006 and remains an important player in the current squad over a decade later. He now has the honour of playing the most matches for Narberth, with 295 games in the Heineken or National Leagues to date. Good scrummager and thrower-in and is known as one of the most consistent players in the squad. Dan was also capped for the Wales Amateur side in recognition of his consistent play for The Otters.

“Fifitapuku Faletau joined Narberth at the start of the 2001 season, having won 24 international caps for Tonga. Renowned as a very powerful scrummager but he was also a very effective ball carrier resulting in several memorable tries with his trademark bursts near the line. ‘Puku’ was also able to play at hooker and still lives in Narberth with his wife, who is a local girl.
 

Real class in the second row

“Emori Katalau proved to be Narberth's finest overseas’ recruit having joined the club as an experienced second row from Dunvant in 2001 and who had earlier played in two World Cup tournaments for Fiji. He had the honour of captaining his country and won 51 International caps. Emori was very fit and was an outstanding line-out operator and with impressive pace and ball handling skills.

“Current second row Alex Jenkins has played for Narberth since 2007 and captained us for three of those seasons. He is another player who has represented the Wales’ Amateur side. He's a very robust player and enjoys the close exchanges but is very mobile – and has now played 174 league games for Narberth and is still rightly regarded as one of the finest second row forwards in the Championship.
 

A back row to grace any club

“Alan Reynolds brought a wealth of experience to Narberth when he joined the club at the start of the 2000 season and made a big contribution in Narberth being crowned champions of Division Two the following season. This ball-winning Welsh international was respected for his immense strength, speed to the break down and ability to smash through tackles In that season Alan was part of a fine back row with Gareth Bennett and Simon Davies .

“Simon Davies joined Narberth from Cardigan in 1993 and went on to play 199 league games for us before a serious injury forced him to retire from the game in the 2003-04 season. He captained Narberth for four seasons and considered by many to have been the club's finest. Simon led by example and set himself high standards on the field which he seldom failed to achieve, showing his ability to defend well but also to be a powerful ball carrier and great motivator.

“Katilimponi Tuipolotu started playing for us at the start of the 2003 season, arriving from Dunvant having previously played for Ebbw Vale and Neath; and won numerous caps for Tonga. He was hard as nails but also a very mobile and powerful ball-carrying back row forward and a very destructive defender renowned for his massive tackling talents in his own 22. ‘Kati’ was also very sharp at picking up at the base of scrums and linking well with his scrum half.

Every club needs excellent players on the bench and both Rob and Ken agreed that whilst choosing their team was hard, picking a bench was equally challenging because they had to omit to many talented players who also deserved the recognition of their ability – but in the final analysis decided on the following:

“Adrian Killa first signed as scrum half for Narberth in the 2002 season from Bonymaen, as a very talented player and we could find very little to choose between him and Chris MacDonald for the scrum half berth. He had a fine service and pace to take advantage of half a gap - and he could also be a very competent full back. He played 224 league games for Narberth as proof of his consistency – and hugely popular with supporters.

“Jack Price was one of the more recent Narberth players, having joined from Llanelli at the start of the 2016-17 season and although he played only 45 league games for us he made a big impression as a game-changer with his powerful running, ability to break tackles and strong defence. In his first season at the Club he scored six tries in the league game home to Dunvant to equal the club’s record.

“Nick Gale is another winger/full back who only just missed out on selection because he has been a superb place kicker who has proved vital in so many matches – and a proven try scorer over the years with his pace and elusive qualities. Another big favourite with the Narberth faithful!

“Nathan Williams came to Narberth from Carmarthen Quins at the start of the 2004 season and proved to be one of the strongest scrummagers that’s been at the club. He was also very mobile and a great supporter of players on the ball. He was a Welsh under 21 international and remained with Narberth for three seasons before leaving to join Moseley, as well as playing for Llanelli and Newport Gwent Dragons.

“Craig Hawkins was a committed hooker after joining us in the 2002-03 season from Dunvant and he soon established himself as the Club’s number one hooker. He was very mobile and he made full use of his great strength in the tight by frequently turning over opposition ball. He made many appearances in the back row during his 42 league appearances for the Club.

“Stuart Worrall joined Narberth from Cardigan at the start of the 2013 season and played 50 league games for us and produced some exceptional performances with his work rate in attack and quite outstanding defence. It was very apparent that he was destined to play at a higher level and after two seasons left to join Llandovery in the Premiership.”
 

Long-serving coaches and team manager

Our coaches would have to be Jonathan Dodd and current incumbent Sean Gale, who have both done a great job over many years. They have already proved their analytical prowess in maintaining our place so high in the league set-up, have recruited amazingly well over their time – and are excellent man managers.

*Modesty forbade ‘Basher’ from nominating himself for this important role but since he was doing the job for most of the time we nominated him ourself – and he could have help from Chris ‘Cone’ James, who is doing a solid job after so many years playing second row!

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK KEN MATHIAS FOR A LOT OF THE PHOTOS AND TO FIND THEIR NAMES JUST MOVE THE CURSOR OVER THE PICTURES!

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