Bonymaen 24 pts. Narberth 5

After travelling to Bonymaen on the back of confidence boosting Pembrokeshire Cup win at Pembroke the previous week, the Otters returned from Parc Mawr empty-handed. Scrum-half Chris MacDonald had the honour of leading out the Narberth team in celebration of his 250th league appearance for the Otters. He made his Narberth debut during the first season of the Heineken League. Considering that MacDonald has also played for Swansea, Neath and Llanelli, it is a tribute to the skill and stamina of this fine player that the scrum-half has managed to fit in so many league appearances for the club where he started his rugby career as a junior. For most of the first half, play was pretty even and after Bony scrum-half Mark Davies was red-carded after 34 minutes, the Otters were in the ascendancy. However, an injury time try by substitute scrum- half Richard Cunniffe, converted by Paul Warlow, gave the home team an advantage of 13 points and from that point onwards Bony took control. Paul Warlow has been playing outside-half in recent weeks for the top-of-the-table team because of an injury to the regular outside-half Gareth James, who had a number seasons with Narberth. Warlow proved to be a more than able deputy and was later selected as the Bonymaen man-of-the- match. He gave the Division One West leaders the lead after just two minutes with a short range penalty from inside the Narberth 22. Paul Warlow missed out on a penalty opportunity after 16 minutes, but put his kicking boots back on three minutes later when he slotted over a penalty from outside the 22. Narberth had created an overlap on a number of occasions, but failed to take advantage of scoring opportunities. Mark Davies had been a livewire behind the Bony pack, but when he saw the red mist after 34 minutes and was dispatched off the field, it gave the Otters the chance to take control. For most of the remainder of the half, the Otters were on top, but Bony struck back from a rare excursion inside the Narberth 22. Eighteen-year-old Richard Cunniffe, making his first league appearance for Bonymaen, was the hero of the hour when he broke away inside the 22 and went over for a try converted by Paul Warlow. Trailing by 13 points at the start of the second half, Narberth had to make an early impression. It was not to be, as Bony showed their mettle in playing with 14 men. After four minutes, the Bonymaen pack created a try with some excellent work inside the Narberth 22 and flanker Dai Absalom was driven over for the touchdown, which Warlow failed to convert against the wind. The league leaders were held in check for the next 20 minutes, but still the Otters were unable to breakthrough to score, despite continuing to create opportunities. Paul Warlow extended the lead with another penalty and the only time that the Otters got on the score sheet was when Bonymaen were reduced to 13 players after flanker Ewan Hopkins was yellow- carded. From a lineout near the Bonymaen line, Narberth lock forward David Ebsworth forced his way over, but the conversion attempt by Nick Jones hit the right upright instead of going between the posts. The Otters did not give up, but still were unable to score and more salt was rubbed into the wound when Paul Warlow slotted over his fourth penalty of the match to complete the scoring for the afternoon. Commenting after the game, backs coach Clive James was rather dejected when he said: "Today's result was very disappointing. In the first half we did not perform. Once again we were good in the set-pieces, but nothing else seemed to be happening and there was a lack of both hunger and desire. We must sort it out on the training field and go on from there. "We continued to make the wrong decisions on the field. We got ourselves into good positions, but then took the wrong options, which cost us three or four good scoring opportunities. "Flanker Jamie Bohata gave it his all and, although we continued to miss Lloyd Phillips, there were also very good performances by flanker Matthew Davies and substitute flanker Jack Mason. "Behind the scrum, centre Steve Martin did his utmost to keep Narberth in the game and winger Nick Jones caused problems for the Bonymaen defence." Narberth do not have a league fixture tomorrow (Saturday) because of the international in Rome between Italy and Wales. Narberth will have some rugby, however, as the Pembrokeshire team have been invited to play Neath at the Gnoll in the first of the Brian Williams tribute games. The match at Neath will kick-off at 1 pm. Narberth fielded: Sion Brace (capt.), Nick Jones, Steve Martin, Neil Davies, Mark Davies, Mike Georgiou, Chris MacDonald (Andrew Davies), Nathan Williams, Dan Smith, Justin Hughes (Scott Payne), Emori Katalau, Chris James (David Ebsworth), Jamie Bohata, Matthew Davies (Jack Mason) and Lewis Wood.