Livelier in all aspects of play, Llangennech nullified Narberth's attacking edge by counter-attacking to make the Otters pay a heavy penalty for any mistakes.

Speaking after the match, Narberth team manager Robert Lewis said: "It was a disappointing performance. We started off well and for a time controlled the set-pieces. However, as the game wore on, we made a number of mistakes and Llangennech picked up on all of the errors and scored some good tries."

Continuing, he said: "In retrospect, we were lucky to turn round at half-time with the scores level at 12 points each. Gareth James had kicked extremely well to keep Narberth in the game with four penalties. In the second half we made mistakes throwing the ball around and Llangennech took any scoring opportunities which they were offered."

It was a different story at the start of the match and there was an air of optimism amongst Narberth supporters who were glad of the opportunity to see some rugby following the recent snow.

In the opening minute, fullback Gareth James gave the Otters the lead with a penalty, but the visitors soon revealed that they would counter-attack with every opportunity.

Narberth had mounted an attack and prop Fifipuku Faletau had led the charge towards the Llangennech line inside the 22 when the ball went to ground. It was moved out quickly, with centres Paul Davies and Mark Bowen breaking through.

Fortunately, Narberth winger Daniel Gravell was alive to the situation and pulled off a try-saving tackle yards from the Narberth line.

Within minutes, Llangennech were at it again. Centre Mark Bowen intercepted a loose pass just inside the Narberth half and this time, although Gravell tried to pull off another tackle from behind, Bowen used his pace and strength to shrug off the tackle to cross for a try, converted by outside-half Mark Jones.

The lead was reduced to one point following a penalty by Gareth James.

However, Llangennech were quick to extend the lead when winger Peter Burrows picked up an attempted clearance kick on the halfway line in front of the stand.

Sensing an opening, Burrows moved the ball quickly from right to left and all of the Llangennech backs joined in to show quick hands to create an overlap on the left.

Winger Brad Kearsted raced outside the Narberth covering defence to cross for an unconverted try in the left corner.

Surprisingly, Mark Jones was off target with a penalty attempt for the visitors from just inside the Narberth 22 and seven minutes before the interval Gareth James did well to kick a penalty from the 10-metre line to reduce the deficit to three points.

The Llangennech threequarters almost slipped through the net again, but Narberth flanker Katilimoni Tuipulotu saved the blushes with a superb tackle just inside the corner flag.

On the stroke of half-time, flanker Simon Peters was yellow-carded for Llangennech.

The offence was penalised and Gareth James made no mistake in slotting over the penalty to level the scores at the interval.

After five minutes of the second half, Narberth took the lead from broken play when flanker Katilimoni Tuipulotu broke through for a try under the posts, which was converted by Gareth James.

However, as soon as Simon Peters came back on to the field, Llangennech started to take control with a full complement of players.

Skipper and scrum-half Chris Davies led by example and his try typified the quick-thinking of the Llangennech team.

The visitors were awarded a penalty inside the Narberth 22 and Davies left the covering defence standing as he sliced through for a try, converted by Mark Jones.

Ten minutes later, Llangennech regained the lead through a penalty by Mark Jones from the 22 and from that moment it was impossible for the Otters to get back in to the game.

The control exercised by the visitors was exemplified when they won a strike against the head from a scrum just inside the Narberth 22.

With the Narberth threequarters expecting the ball, the Llangennech backs took advantage of some slight hesitancy and centre Mark Bowen crossed for his second try of the match, which was converted by Mark Jones.

The scoring was completed with a well-taken drop goal by Mark Jones from the Narberth 22.

Llangennech deserved to win as the players combined well as a unit and took any half chances available. Normally the Narberth backs are a match for any opposing threequarters in Division One, but on this occasion the visitors held the upper hand, with a dangerous pair of centres in Paul Davies and Mark Bowen, supplemented by an extremely quick and skilful winger in Brad Kearsted.

Some of the Narberth players lacked commitment on the day and the Otters did not display the same 'one for all and all for one' attitude of the visitors.

Gareth James stuck at his task for Narberth and without his reliable boot the Otters would have been out of the game in the first half. Narberth hooker Craig Hawkins, flanker Katilimoni Tuipulotu, centre Andrew Bowen and winger Andrew Jones were other exceptions to the rule and did not stop trying throughout the match.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Narberth have a testing friendly match at home to Carmarthen Quins which will kick-off at 2.30 pm.

Hooker Craig Hawkins and Gareth James were nominated by the match sponsors as the Narberth men-of-the-match.

The Folly Farm Balcony Suite match sponsors were Jeffreyston Inn, incorporating Cynylleudfa O Sir Benfro, of Jeffreyston, and the Otters' Holt match sponsors were Cefnogwyr Clunderwen. The Friends of the late Roy Brown, of Narberth, acted as team sponsors and the match ball was sponsored by Chris Viggars, of Simply Gardens, Narberth and Heather, Jordan and John Howell, of Narberth.