Narberth 21 pts. Tonmawr 52

After raising their game the previous week with a depleted side away to Corus, the Otters came back to earth with a bump against league leaders Tonmawr.

Narberth fought all of the way, but the powerful Green and Whites pack, swift backs with excellent hands combined with control and vision, proved to be too strong for a Narberth team forced to play squad members out of position.

Ton fullback Gareth John gave his team an early lead after just three minutes when he burst into the line, judging his run to perfection, to finish a cracking handling move with a try in the right corner.

Outside-half Luke Richards converted the try to start his 100 per cent record on the day.

It was all Tonmawr at this stage and it was no surprise when the visitors increased the lead from a penalty from a well-drilled training ploy.

Luke Richards threw the Narberth defence as he appeared to have decided to kick for the posts from a short range penalty kick. Instead, he made a precision diagonal kick for the right corner for winger Ryan Bayliss, who got to the ball before it had bounced, to score a converted try in the right corner.

The Otters started to come into the game more and a left-footed cross kick to the left corner by outside-half Craig Jones resulted in a try for winger Sion Brace, with two desperate defenders clinging on to his back, but Brace had the strength and power to score, although Craig Jones was unable to convert.

The Otters lost momentum and subsequently conceded points when fullback Roger Davies was yellow-carded after 27 minutes.

Tonmawr made the most of the extra man when number eight and captain Rob Hill controlled the ball at the base of a scrum to cross for a try in the left corner.

The Otters picked up second wind and came back before half-time with a penalty by Craig Jones and a late unconverted try in the right corner by number eight Steffan Phillips to reduce the Tonmawr lead to eight points at the interval.

It got better for Narberth, who started the second half in impressive style with an attacking move which ended in a first minute unconverted try when Steffan Phillips scored in the right corner from a well-judged cross kick by Craig Jones.

Tonmawr became somewhat jittery and the jitters continued after Otters outside-half Craig Jones kicked another penalty to make the scores level at 21-apiece.

The turning point came after 53 minutes when Ton scrum–half James Donovan broke from outside the 22 to cross for a converted try.

Tonmawr pressed home the advantage, held on to the lead which was extended as the Otters became a little tired and were unable to raise their game any longer.

Rob Hill scored again after Luke Richards kicked a penalty and Richards maintained his remarkable record by converting two subsequent tries scored by replacement winger Elliott Frewin and flanker Ejike Ozoigwe.

Otters director of rugby Jonathan Dodd agreed that Tonmawr deserved to win, but was disappointed that Narberth had leaked so many points after Donovan had regained the lead for the visitors.

Speaking to Observer Sport, he said "Whereas I did not think that the score reflected the game, Tonmawr deserve full credit for an excellent win.

"I was very pleased for the boys, especially those who came in for injured players, for the way in which they competed and fought back to 21-all.

"After that, we tired and some of our organisation went so that we leaked a few tries later on in the game which bumped up the scoreline.

"Teenage Tom Powell made a very good debut at number seven and looks to be a player of the future and Gareth Bateman should be congratulated for playing out of position in the second row.

"A number of players were on the field despite carrying injuries and it was a patched together side, but as coaches we were very pleased with the way in which the boys competed."

Folly Farm Balcony Suite match sponsors, Bill Ridge and Friends, and Otters Holt match sponsors, the Templeton Supporters, nominated Narberth number eight Steffan Phillips as man-of-the-match.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Narberth are away to Cwmllynfell.

Narberth fielded: Roger Davies, Mark Heywood, Richard Davies (capt), John Leyshon, Sion Brace, Craig Jones, Adrian Killa, Sean Lloyd, Dan Smith, Justin Hughes, Gareth Bateman, Alex Jenkins, Gareth Bateman, Colin Davies, Tom Powell and Steffan Phillips.

Replacements - Rhys Davies, Ifan Davies, Toby Smith, Aled Harries and Tom Slater.