Narberth's front row problems reached crisis point on Saturday when the Otters were forced to travel to Llangennech without any recognised props and without any substitutes.

The front row problems have accrued through a mixture of injury and unavailability of key players. Two of the props, Martin Bowen and Alan Phillips, will be running for charity in the London Marathon on Sunday and because of injuries to other players, the match at Llangennech had to be played with uncontested scrums.

No more than seven points separated the teams throughout the match and until Jonathan Morgan scored a decisive injury time try for Llangennech, there was only one point between the teams.

In an entertaining game, Narberth captain Emori Katalau opened the scoring when he finished off a good handling movement having been put into space by some explosive running by winger Mathew Davies.

The Otters captain touched down under the posts after seven minutes and outside-half Tom Lewis converted the try.

Llangennech equalised when fullback Ellis Phillips came into the line to set up an overlap try for winger Johan Taffatsaffeur in the left corner following a break by centre Richard Thomas. The try was converted by outside-half Mark Jones.

Tom Lewis tried a long penalty kick from the 10- metre line just before half-time, but failed to score for Narberth.

However, with the last throw of the dice in the first half, winger Mathew Davies finished off some superb running by the Otters threequarters when he weaved inside and outside five defenders before crossing for a try under the posts, which was converted by Tom Lewis.

The backs of both teams were evenly matched and the Llangennech threequarters strutted their stuff at the start of the second half.

Right wing Wayne Price showed pace and power to cross in the right corner after six minutes for a try converted by Mark Jones.

Although the Otters reduced the deficit within two minutes with a long distance drop goal by Tom Lewis after a lineout, Price scored again to put the home team in front for the first time in the match.

Moving from the right wing over to the left, Price was in position to support an attacking movement and assisted by some slip-shod marking he went over in the left corner for a try converted by the pinpoint boot of Mark Jones.

Play moved quickly from one end of the field to the other and another breathtaking run by winger Mathew Davies almost ended in a try.

Unfortunately for the visitors, his inside pass to centre Steve Martin was touched in flight by a Llangennech player and Martin was unable to grasp the ball with the line a few steps away.

A tense final quarter was set up when Tom Lewis kicked a penalty from the 10-metre line to reduce the deficit to just one point.

Within minutes, Narberth were awarded a penalty again, but a long distance attempt by Lewis from the left touchline just shaved the left upright.

With both teams putting their all into the closing minutes, a breakaway try by Llangennech centre Jonathan Morgan settled the outcome when he went over in the left corner for an unconverted try.

In the circumstances, it was a terrific performance by the Otters who competed throughout the match, with the players giving their all despite picking a bump or two.

Commenting after the match, senior coach Jonathan Dodd said: "It was a very good performance by the Narberth team in a match which could have gone either way. Both teams played some excellent rugby and Llangennech had a very good try at the end to make sure of the points.

"For the Narberth team, it was a turn around in the dismal performance at Beddau the previous Saturday and it is a testimony to the commitment given by the players that the same 15 players started and finished the match. This was a huge effort, as some players were carrying injuries picked up during the match.

"Had we won, it would have been a rather hollow victory, but on the day we could not ask any more from the boys who produced a great team effort." Narberth fielded: Sion Brace, Josh Freeman, Steve Martin, Mike Georgiou, Mathew Davies, Tom Lewis, Andrew Davies, Anthony Griffiths, Adrian Chiffi, David Ebsworth, Emori Katalau (capt.), Jason Jennings, Jamie Bohatau, Mathew Davies and Lewis Wood.