An unfortunate leg injury to North Walian John L. Roberts, the match referee, after 57 minutes, brought this absorbing contest to an unexpected end. After Builth had enjoyed a productive first half, the Otters were just getting back into the game and had taken the lead for the first time when the referee injured a leg muscle and was unable to walk, let alone run. He received treatment from Narberth's physiotherapist, Janet Tebutt, and was later examined by a Narberth doctor, who arranged for the RAC to be called to take Mr. Roberts back to North Wales. The Bulls have often proved to be a bogey team for the Otters and the visitors were first to get out of the starting blocks in this match. In the opening stages, Narberth were on the back foot and Builth took the lead with a short-range penalty from fullback John Thursden. After 14 minutes, the lead was extended. From a clever lineout move in the right corner, the Bulls smuggled the ball to scrum-half Tom Powell after a rolling maul and Powell darted over in the right corner for an unconverted try. Midway through the first half, Narberth struck back with a short-range penalty by fullback Nick Jones after the Otters had shown some signs of life with two exciting runs by winger Matthew Davies. On both occasions, Davies left it rather late to pass and Builth regrouped to prevent tries being scored. The scores were levelled with a piece of individual brilliance by winger Mark Davies. Davies picked up the ball from loose play well inside the Narberth half. Four times he kicked the ball forward and on each occasion controlled the ball well with his footballing skills before outpacing a covering defence to go over for a try at the right corner, which Nick Jones was unable to convert. The Bulls were still very much in the game and fullback Thursden hit the right upright with a long- range penalty attempt, but two minutes later from the same spot he made amends by finding the sweet spot on the ball which sailed high over the bar and between the posts. The Otters trailed by three points at the interval, but were soon back in the game and took the lead for the first time with a try by Steve Martin after just two minutes. The alert Narberth centre intercepted the pass near the halfway line. Martin accelerated quickly and there was no stopping him as he went over for a try under the posts converted by Nick Jones. A few minutes later, Narberth's supporters had something else to cheer about when winger Andrew Jones made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a substitute after recovering from injury. Unfortunately, the popular player, who has rejoined the club this season from Carmarthen Quins, was unable to touch the ball before the match was brought to an end with the injury to the referee. Commenting after the match, Narberth's director of rugby, Jonathan Dodd, said: "Builth Wells deserve full credit for playing well, tackling hard and stopping us playing our natural game. We were not allowed to get going and our performance was nowhere near as good as when we left off last league match at home to Llangennech. "Although our first half performance was rather disappointing, we were just starting to edge ahead and to get our backs together when the match was abandoned." Although the Otters did enough in the second half to show that they were eager to win, the Narberth team will have to play must better tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel to Whitland for the second local derby of this season. Union Brewery were the Folly Farm Balcony Suite match sponsors and the Otters Holt match sponsors were the Templeton Supporters. The match ball was sponsored by the Pwll Trap Boys. Narberth fielded: Nick Jones, Mark Davies (Andrew John), Steve Martin, Neil Davies, Matthew Davies, Steve Williams, Andrew Davies, Nathan Williams, Dan Smith, Justin Hughes (capt.), David Ebsworth, Emori Katalau, Jamie Bohata, Matthew Davies (Lloyd Phillips) and Lewis Wood.
