Narberth ended the season on a high note with a comprehensive win away to Carmarthen Quins who were already guaranteed a top seven finish in Division One.

The Otters had to win to keep alive their slim chances of gaining promotion to the Premiership next season and in defeating a strong Quins team the Otters reserved their best performance of the season for the last game.

No doubt at the start of the season most Narberth players, officials and supporters would have settled for a final place in the top eight of Division One. However after an early season run of six consecutive wins dreams of promotion became a reality.

With the benefit of hindsight the tremendous start to the season raised hopes falsely and during the mid season the results were inconsistent.

The popular view is that the fluctuating form was due to playing on wet grounds, heavy conditions and against more streetwise opposition. However that period also coincided with the time when a number of key players such as Simon Daniel, Andrew Bowen and Andrew Jones were injured and influential lock forward Jamie Bohata left the squad to work as a ski instructor in France.

At Carmarthen everything clicked. It was clear from the outset that the Quins were determined to win but the Otters raised their game to play as a complete unit. Up front the Narberth lineout men had the better of their opponents and in the scrums the front five disrupted the Quins's set piece moves.

Narberth players such as Simon Delaney, Mathew Evans and Simon Davies were quick to the break downs at the rucks and mauls and behind the scrum the three quarters played with pace, passion and skill.

The tackling of the Narberth back row and centres was exemplary and outside half Simon Daniel was the master craftsman controlling proceedings, especially in the second half.

The Quins took an early lead through penalty by outside half Giles Thomas but Simon Daniel levelled the scores within minutes.

Another penalty by Giles Thomas regained the advantage for the Quins, and his opposite number Simon Daniel missed out with a penalty attempt, and a drop goal attempt which were kickable by his standards.

After 36 minutes the Otters edged in front following a blind side move by scrum half Adrian Killa which was finished off by winger Daniel Gravell in the corner for an unconverted try.

The large contingent of Narberth's supporters sensed that the Otters were getting on top and were delighted when Simon Daniel crossed for a try under the posts which he converted himself. It was an excellent try from third phase possession whilst Daniel showed strength and determination to hand off an opponent before crossing near the posts.

The euphoria was short lived as with the last move of the first half winger Steve Wake clawed back five points with a try and a conversion by Giles Thomas reduced the deficit to just two points at the interval.

After five minutes of the second half powerful running by winger Daniel Gravell extended the lead for Narberth with an unconverted try.

Ten minutes later two precision drop goals in quick succession by Simon Daniel increased the lead further.

With 15 minutes remaining in the defining moment of the game the Otters scored a gem of a try from a counter attack, following a period of Quins pressure inside the Narberth 22.

The Otters managed to smuggle the ball, and scrum half Adrian Killa triggered off a blind side move which led to full back Nick Jones feigning to pass to Daniel Gravell, before running in for a superb try from 85 metres, which was again converted by Simon Daniel.

This try by Jones and the two tries by Daniel and Gravell earlier in the match gave both players twenty tries for the season.

Following a penalty by Giles Thomas for the Quins, Narberth's Fijian International Emori Katalau completed a flowing movement by selling a dummy to touch down for an unconverted try following a period of broken play.

Quins winger Deiniol Evans finished off a move in the corner to complete the scoring for the afternoon with an unconverted try.

Narberth's fate was sealed on Tuesday evening when Carmarthen Quins travelled to Cross Keys and lost by a margin of 31 points to 14.

The win gave Cross Keys a place in the coveted top seven of Division One at the expense of Narberth, to deny the Otters the opportunity of playing premiership rugby next season.

However, the remarkable achievement of ending the season with ten consecutive wins has not gone in vain, as early indications have already indicated that there will be an increased level of support together with a record number of vice presidents and sponsors next season.

At Carmarthen Quins Narberth fielded: Nick Jones (Gareth James), Daniel Gravell, Andrew Bowen (Mike Jones), Elgan Vittle, Andrew Jones, Simon Daniel, Adrian Killa (Ryan Williams), Andrew Howell, Simon Delaney (Craig Hawkins), Rob Jones (Alan Phillips), Emori Katalu, Jason Jennings (David Ebsworth), Simon Davies (captain) (Meurig Daniel), Mathew Evans and Gareth Bennett.