This pulsating game at Villa Field was up for grabs right up until the last few minutes when a try by substitute scrum-half Andrew Davies, converted by Nick Jones, settled the issue in favour of the Otters. Loughor were fighting to avoid relegation, but they continued where they left off last week at Narberth with fine attacking play and sound defence throughout the match.

Fullback Jason Roberts gave the Blues an early lead when he pounced onto a attempted relieving kick by outside-half Matthew Davies and crossed for a try converted by Loughor number 10 Ben Davies. After six minutes, Loughor had a chance to extend the lead, but Ben Davies missed out on a penalty opportunity.

Midway through the first half, Narberth winger Nick Jones kicked a penalty from 40 metres to put the first points on the board for the Otters. Ben Davies missed out on another penalty kick for Loughor and in the final analysis the penalty misses proved to be decisive.

Nevertheless, the Loughor team increased the lead when centre Andrew Mead robbed the Narberth defence of the ball which was bouncing awkwardly and touched down near the posts for a try converted by Ben Davies. It had not all been one-way traffic and to prove a point, prop Nathan Williams finished off some good work by the Narberth pack with a try near the posts converted by Nick Jones.

The Otters stole the lead for the first time after 36 minutes with a superb try by centre Steve Martin. Neil Davies picked up the ball inside the Narberth half and started a move taken on by a number of players, including hooker Dan Smith, who released Martin to somehow find a gap through a crowded left touchline to score an unconverted try. Once again Ben Davies had a penalty chance and once again it was missed.

At the start of the second half, a defence-splitting jinking run by winger Mark Davies came close to producing a try for the Otters, but when play moved to the other end of the field, Ben Davies was on target at last with a penalty kick and he regained the lead for the Blues.

The Narberth team showed their ability to make the most of half chances when some brilliant running by Steve Martin and Mark Davies was finished off by experienced second row forward Emori Katalau with an unconverted try.

In front again, the Otters extended the lead when Justin Hughes was driven over for a try in the left corner, which Nick Jones did well to convert.

Ben Davies reduced the lead with a penalty for Loughor, but after 33 minutes, Narberth fullback and captain Sion Brace came into the line to finish off more good work by Dan Smith and Steve Martin, before Brace touched down for an unconverted try. Loughor were not finished, however, and after 35 minutes, winger Andrew Banfield ran through the Narberth defence with a brilliant run and his try was converted by Ben Davies. With just five points separating the teams, the situation in the closing stages was tense, but the issue was settled in the sixth minute of injury time when substitute scrum-half Andrew Davies brought the scoring to an end with a try converted by Nick Jones.

Commenting after the match, Narberth team manager Robert Lewis said: "We have got to be pleased with the result today which has made sure that we are third in the league whatever happens. On a local front, it is nice to be ahead of our rivals Whitland, although we still have to play Whitland in the final of the Pembrokeshire Knockout Cup. "Loughor played their hearts out today. We have been in that position playing to avoid relegation and they did really well. The Loughor players gave it everything and probably played better this afternoon than they have all of the season. They paid us the compliment after the match of saying, though, that Narberth were the best team they have played all season.

"The scoreline flattered us a little as it was a very close game. It was a case of even- stevens in the scrums and lineouts, but we have that extra ability in the backs which managed to pull us through. "Steve Martin had another excellent game and the front row played particularly well, with prop Justin Hughes and hooker Dan Smith at the forefront of everything.

"Veteran second row Emori Katalau showed that there was still some strength in his legs as he ran to the line to finish off a brilliant move with a try. "It was a good all-round performance, although we did make mistakes - it was one of those games with the bounce of the ball deceptive in the dry conditions. "At the end of the day we were lucky enough to run away with a win and it is hard lines on Loughor, although it is still possible that they will stay up. "The Narberth boys played exceptionally well considering that we were up against a team who were desperate to win." The result means an anxious wait for Loughor who have finished their league campaign, but will stay up or be relegated according to results outside of their control. Tomorrow (Saturday), Narberth are home to Builth Wells in a re-arranged match, which was abandoned earlier this season when the referee was injured.

Narberth fielded: Sion Brace (captain), Mark Davies (Andrew Jones), Steve Martin, Neil Davies, Nick Jones, Matthew Davies, Adrian Killa (Andrew Davies), Nathan Williams, Dan Smith, Justin Hughes, Jamie Bohata, Emori Katalau, Matthew Davies, Jack Mason (David Ebsworth) and Lewis Wood.