Narberth 8 pts. Carmarthen Athletic 17

Prevented from taking full advantage of the wind at their backs in the first half by a well-organised Red and Blacks' defence, the Otters ran out of attacking ideas in the second half as the visitors took control of a tight game.

Disappointingly for Narberth, the team has dropped down to seventh place in the table and Carmarthen Athletic have taken their place in third position along with Whitland in the Division One West table.

The visitors took the lead after 10 minutes through a short range penalty by outside-half Neil Davies. The player was making his first start at number 10 as his regular position is fullback, but he made an impressive debut in his new role for the Red and Blacks and his place kicking throughout the match was immaculate.

Two minutes later, the Otters had a chance to level the scores, but an ambitious penalty attempt from the halfway line by outside-half Aled Davies went just left of the posts.

Within minutes, Jonathan Morgan, playing out of position on the left wing, edged the Otters in front when he finished off a combined movement between the pack and the backs after a defence-splitting run by number eight Derek Lewis.

When play was switched from right to left, a good finish by Jonathan Morgan enabled the Otters to take the lead with an unconverted try in the left corner.

After18 minutes, the Otters were reduced to 14 players for a short period as lock Alex Jenkins was sin-binned.

Good organisation by the visitors broke down a series of Narberth attacks and prevented the Otters from building up a substantial lead at half-time.

The only increase to the score was a penalty kick by Aled Davies in injury time from the 22.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Otters were reduced to 14 players again when centre Richard Davies received a yellow card.

From the subsequent penalty, Neil Davies converted from 38 metres to reduce the lead to two points and a few minutes later left wing Dai Jenkins put the Red and Blacks in front following a blind side move from a scrum, to enable Jenkins to cross in the left corner for an unconverted try.

Narberth centres Richard Davies and Neil Davies kept trying to find a way through the defence, but the Red and Blacks scored again with a penalty by Neil Davies from three metres inside his own half.

The kick knocked the stuffing out of the Otters and any remaining doubt about the final outcome was removed when Neil Davies struck the final nail in the coffin with a short range penalty kick.

Clive James, the Narberth backs coach, was disappointed with the result when he spoke after the match.

He said: "It was very disappointing and the second week running that we have not performed as well as we can.

"We have to have a good look at ourselves on the field in training, personnel and in all aspects of the game. It will be a case of going back to the drawing board and changing tactics by working on things after studying the video. The lineout and the scrums are both functioning, but we have a problem with taking the right options at relevant times.

"It is not all down to the players and we have to take collective responsibility as coaches along with the playing squad.

"For some reason we are not clicking at present. Also today the penalty count against us was huge and we gave away two cheap yellow cards.

"Some key individuals are struggling to perform and the infectiousness which they impart when on form is just not happening at present.

"It is not all doom and gloom as there were some good individual performances up front by hooker Dan Smith, lock Chris James and number eight Derek Lewis, who caused problems for the Carmarthen Athletic defence at times.

"Nevertheless, Carmarthen Athletic reduced our attacking options and we failed to get our usual momentum. We need to turn it around quickly in order to start moving back up the table."

Otters' number eight Derek Lewis was selected as the man-of-the-match by the Folly Farm Balcony Suite match sponsors Maurice Cole, of the Cresselly Arms, Creswell Quay, together with Alasdair Mackenzie. Mole Valley Forage Services acted as sponsors in the Otters' Holt and the players' bar sponsors were Joanne Lewis, together with Colin Jenkins and guests.

The match ball sponsors were Graham Searle and guests.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Narberth are away to Llangennech and will be looking to reverse the losing streak.

Narberth fielded: Steve Martin, Tom Bonnell, Richard Davies, Neil Davies (Nick Jones), Jonathan Morgan, Aled Davies (Matthew Davies), Adrian Killa, Ryan Perrott (Tom Slater), Dan Smith, Justin Hughes (capt.), Chris James, Alex Jenkins (David Ebsworth), Gareth Bateman (Luke Kendall), Andrew Dennis and Derek Lewis.