PembrokeshireSport.co.uk would like to thank Ken Mathias for this interesting and detailed analysis of Alex Jenkins wonderfully loyal service to Narberth RFC. It really encapsulates Alex’s amazing recent achievement un reaching that magic 300-game mark . . .

Some good fortune resulted from the postponement of the away league game at Glamorgan Wanderers a fortnight ago and that is the fact that Alex Jenkins, the Narberth RFC second row forward, played in the recent home game against Cardiff Met and it was a significant occasion for him in his rugby career as he was be playing his 300th league game for Narberth and without the postponement then he would have achieved this milestone recently in the game away at Beddau.

So it was very apt that he celebrated the occasion with his team mates and supporters at the Lewis Lloyd ground, which he has graced with such distinction over so many seasons. Since 1990, the season that the new leagues were introduced, only Dan Smith, the Narberth RFC hooker, has achieved this feat prior to Alex, and Dan is still going strong and playing well and is on a current total of having played 315 league games for the Club.
 

Successful youth days

Prior to joining Narberth Alex had a very successful period in Regional and Youth rugby with his home club Tenby RFC having captained the Youth team in his final year at that age group. He also represented Pembrokeshire County at Under 15 - 18 's level as well as the Scarlets under 18's and 20's.

He was a member of the Scarlets Under 18 team that beat the Ospreys in the regional Cup Final, in which Alex partnered Josh Turnbull in the second-row, with centre Jon Davies scoring a hat-trick of tries on the day. But besides winning the game, the fact that it was played at the Millennium Stadium only added to the occasion for the players.

Also in that side on the day was Tom Slater and Steve Martin who would later become team mates of Alex at Narberth RFC and where both have given exceptional service to the Club. Alex also played in another Regional Cup Final against the Ospreys for the Scarlets Under 20s when Lou Reed was alongside him, but on this occasion the Scarlets were defeated.
 

Joined the second row battle for places

Alex joined Narberth at the start of the 2007-08 season, having played one season for Tenby United at senior level, and made his league debut for the Otters in the away game at Merthyr which Narberth won 26 - 29. In that game he partnered Tristan Bowen in the second row, but competition for those places was fierce as Narberth had four other experienced second rows at the time in David Ebsworth, Jason Jennings, Jamie Bohata and Chris James, all competing for the two places in the team.

Alex at that time was only 20 years of age and obviously was still developing his strength and experience, but anyone who saw him play even at that early stage soon realised the great potential and promise that he showed.

A fortnight after joining Narberth, Alex returned to the Heywood Lane ground to play Tenby in the Pembrokeshire Knockout Cup tie, a game which Narberth won 45-8, and his partner that night was Chris James, a combination which would serve Narberth so well over many seasons that followed.

Cup honours – and international recognition

During that first season, Alex played in 14 of the 22 league games and he produced some fine performances in several of those games which earned him the "Player of the Month" award for February.

He also played very well in the Welsh Cup Tie at Glynneath which Narberth won 21 - 34, but possibly the highlight of the season for him was appearing in his first Pembrokeshire KO Cup Final when Narberth beat Whitland 22-18 at Pembroke. Alex could be well satisfied with his first season at this level and he was rewarded for his efforts by being named the "First Team's Most Promising Player" of the season.

The following season brought Alex International recognition when in November 2008 he was selected to play for the Wales Amateur side away to Germany. There were several other Narberth players in the Wales side that day which went on to win 27-14, and Alex's fine performance saw him named ‘Man of the Match’.

Narberth had a good season finishing third in Division One West League, with Alex playing in nineteen of the twenty two league games. Possibly Narberth's biggest game that season came in the Welsh Cup when Cardiff were the visitors to the Lewis Lloyd ground, and although the home side were well beaten, Alex was part of a Narberth team that gave their all. Narberth finished the season on a high as again they won the Pembrokeshire Senior Cup beating Whitland 14-10 at Crymych, with Alex appearing in successive Cup Finals.
 

More success as experience grows

By the 2009-10 season Alex had now become an automatic choice in the Narberth side and he produced some outstanding performances, possibly none better than in Narberth's 29-3 victory at Felinfoel which earned him a ‘Man of the Match’ award, and also in the 28-8 defeat of Pontypool in the Welsh Cup. His efforts were duly rewarded at the end of the season when the team coaches chose him as the ‘Player of the Season’.

It was an award that he won again at the end of the following season in which Narberth had a fine campaign, finishing as runners up to champions Bridgend. Possibly one of the highlights of that season for Alex was the fine try he scored in the 22-81 defeat of Felinfoel.

Over the following six seasons from the start of the 2010-11 one, Alex played in 144 league games without missing a single game, and has reached the 300 total by only missing 25 league games which is an incredible achievement for any player, but especially a second row forward.

The 2011-12 season was a very successful one for Narberth, finishing as runners up to champions Tata Steel. That season in Narberth's 27-17 home win against Llanharan Alex scored his finest try for the Club when following a break by outside half Nick Jones, Alex was in support to take the off load and outpace the defence over 30 yards to score a fine try which sealed the victory. He also scored a try in the home game against Treorchy in the Welsh Cup, but on that occasion his effort could not save Narberth from a 13-20 defeat.




 

100 games - a fine landmark

During the 2012-13 season Alex played his 100th league game for Narberth in the 30-31 home defeat to Newbridge, but there were several other highlights for him during that season. He played in all 26 league games and won no fewer than five Man of the Match awards, so it was no real surprise when he was voted the "Supporters Player of the Year".

At the end of the season second row Chris James having been with Narberth for some eight seasons decided to return to play for Tenby. Alex had played the majority of his rugby at Narberth alongside Chris, and it was a combination which had worked very well. Alex wishes to express in this article the debt that he owes Chris for his valued guidance and advice, and who has had a major influence on his development.

For the first eight league games at the start of the 2013-14 season in the absence of Club captain Steve Martin through injury, Alex was given the captaincy and excelled under the added responsibility and truly led by example and this was no more apparent than in the away game at Blackwood, when Narberth were facing defeat going into injury time, but a powerful run from Alex saw him power through several tackles to score a try in the corner to win the game.




 

100% league record – and more success

Alex was the only Narberth player to appear in all 26 league games during the 2014-15 season, but possibly the highlight of the season for him did not occur in a league game, but in the final game of the season when Narberth appeared once again in the Pembrokeshire Senior Cup Final. They had re-entered the competition and were successful in reaching the Cup Final at Pembroke Dock, where they beat Haverfordwst 31-0, with Alex scoring one of the four tries on the night.

During the 2015-16 season Alex showed his versatility by playing at flanker on four occasions, and played very well especially in the 16 - 21 home defeat to RGC 1404. But it's in his normal second row position that he excels, and without doubt he is still one of the best in the Championship in that position.

On several occasions Premiership Clubs have coveted his services, which is an indication of how highly he is regarded, but Alex has remained loyal to Narberth RFC and at the end of the following season this was recognised when he was presented with the ‘Club Loyalty Award’.



 

Club captaincy arrives

Alex is one of the most experienced players in the First Team squad, so it was no surprise when the Coaching Staff chose him as captain for the 2016-17 season, a role that he carried out with great success for three seasons.

He, especially over those seasons, produced outstanding performances so consistently that he set a high standard for his team mates to follow and this was reflected in the fact that in his first two seasons as captain Narberth finished as runners up in the Championship on both occasions to Pontypool,
 During that season he produced several ‘Man of the Match’ performances but none better than the 39 - 6 win over Cardiff Met and the 12-9 victory away at Bedlinog.

On 17.9.16 that season he also played his 200th league game for Narberth in the 23-13 victory at Newcastle Emlyn, That season Alex had Jake Simm making his debut for the Club as his partner in the second row and both excelled with both playing in all 22 league games.



 

And finally . . .

Alex is now approaching the autumn of his playing career but what an exceptional one it has been as he continues to produce performances of a very high standard week after week and there's no doubting the fact that his appetite for the game is undiminished.

However when spoken to regarding his future in the game Alex was at this time unsure as to whether he will play one more season at this level with Narberth RFC or continue in the game at a lower level and be able to dedicate more time to his young family.

Alex still has a great deal to offer but should he decide to leave our Club then the departure of such a talented and experienced player would be a huge loss and one which would be very difficult to replace.

But that is to be decided at a later date as today is all about recognising Alex's marvellous achievement and congratulating and thanking him for his commitment and the huge contribution that he has made to the success of Narberth RFC over the fifteen seasons that he has played for our Club and he can justifiably look back over that period with a great deal of pride and satisfaction.