Narberth's dreams of making it to the seventh round of the Principality Cup for the second successive season were snuffed out by National League division one rivals Newbridge at the Lewis Lloyd ground on Saturday.

Although their promising start to their league season has floundered, with a series of inconsistent performances, the Otters had comfortably progressed to the sixth round of Wales' Blue Riband rugby tournament, with the prospect of a meeting with one of the Premier division big guns a possibility in the seventh round.

However, it was not to be with Newbridge's strong pack outgunning the Otters in the battle for possession and their sterling defence effectively wrap things up as a contest by the interval.

Although Simon Daniel came close with a penalty attempt in the third minute for Narberth, it was 'Bridge who opening the scoring on the quarter hour mark when livewire captain Geraint Gladwin claimed an unconverted try following a line-out drive set up by Anthony Edwards.

Although wings Daniel Gravell and Nick Jones tried to take the game to the visitors, the Bridge defence held solid, while the Otters were also missing the penetration usually provided in the centre by the injured Andrew Bowen.

For most of the first half it was a game of thrust and parry centred between both 22s as each team probed the other's defences although Daniel was able to reduce the deficit with a penalty midway through the first half with a penalty.

However, Newbridge always looked dangerous and when they twice made inroads into the Otters' 22 late on in the first half, they made them both count.

Gaining second phase from a line out, Bridge pivot, the league's record breaking points scorer Jason Williams, showed his experience with a beautifully weighted chip over the Otters defensive line which allowed wing Gareth Turner to cut inside and win the race to the touch down.

Williams converted and was on hand to again add the extras when Turner again used his pace to run onto a chip ahead to pick up his second try of the afternoon just minutes later

Sixteen points in front at the break, Newbridge extended their lead further within three minutes of the change around when wing Paul Collett seized on loose ball after an attempted clearance by Otters fullback Gareth James was charged down and raced over for a try.

Although Williams failed with the conversion, he made amends with a penalty minutes later to put the visitors firmly on their way to a place in the seventh round.

Although Narberth's half backs had failed to impress in the first half, the introduction of veteran scrum half Chris Macdonald after the oranges, gave the Otters more impetus, while replacement prop Andrew Howell also brought more stability to the under pressure front row.

Going into the last quarter Macdonald gave the Otters faithful something to cheer about when he at last found a chink in Bridge's armour to open the homesters' try account

Daniel added the extras but Narberth had little time to celebrate, 'Bridge lock Craig Blunsden picking up another try from broken play which Williams converted.

To their credit Narberth refused to throw in the towel and had the final say with an unconverted try from prop Rob Jones, but it was too little too late to prevent Newbridge's passage into the next round and a mouthwatering home draw against Premier league leaders Bridgend.

With their cup run ended, Narberth can now focus on their league proper and they will certainly have to have all their wits about them tomorrow (Saturday) for their local derby against Whitland at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn.