Carmarthen Quins 42 pts. Narberth 20

Narberth's winning streak came to an abrupt end at the Park in Carmarthen as the Quins built on their first half lead by scoring three more converted tries in the second half to maintain their unbeaten record with a convincing win.

The Otters were well and truly in the game during the first half and could well have gone into the interval with a lead.

However, some uncharacteristic mistakes, coupled with the inability to finish off chances, took their toll, especially against a top quality team like the Quins and, despite a late consolation try, the visitors were unable to get back into the game.

Quins' outside-half Gareth Cull, who had a tremendous game, opened the scoring after two minutes with an unconverted try in the right corner. It had come from a counter-attack after a relieving kick by Narberth fullback Siôn Brace failed to find touch.

Within minutes, the Otters came back with a short range penalty kick by outside-half Aled Davies and six minutes later the visitors took the lead for the only time in the match.

Speedy winger Tom Bonnell ran on to a delicate chip over the top by Aled Davies following a move started at a line-out and Davies added the icing to the cake by converting the try.

The converted try clearly gave the Otters a boost and a terrific break by centre Steve Martin split open the Quins' defence.

Although two players were outside him on the left, the young Narberth centre opted to go it alone and the failure to make use of the overlap cost the visitors a try.

Minutes later, Quins' centre Jason Harries finished off a broken play movement with a try in the right corner, converted by Gareth Cull, who missed out on a long distance penalty kick from halfway with his next attempt.

It was not long, however, before Cull was on the scoreboard again with two successive penalty kicks, although the Otters fought back once more with a penalty by Aled Davies to reduce the lead to five points, which would have been reduced even further had not a drop- goal attempt by Aled Davies struck the left upright on the stroke of half-time.

Teams who give penalties away against the Quins inevitably pay the price and after six minutes of the second half the lead was increased with a penalty kick from in front of the posts by Gareth Cull

The Quins then scored two tries, the first by fullback Anthony Rees with a move started from a scrum in front of the posts and Rees came into the line to cross for a try converted by Gareth Cull, who also converted the next try scored by second row Gavin Evans, who had space on the right from an overlap to go over the line.

Quins prop Andrew Beaujean was yellow-carded, but the only team to score when he was off the field was Carmarthen Quins, when winger Ryan Llewellyn finished off a move with a try in the right corner, inevitably converted by Cull.

After 37 minutes, a scrum near the Quins' line produced some points for the Narberth team when flanker Andrew Dennis went over for a try, converted by Aled Davies, to conclude the scoring for the afternoon.

Commenting after the match, forwards coach Sean Gale said: "We were very disappointed with the performance today. Although we started quite well, we did not take our chances in the first half.

"As the game progressed, the Quins' outside-half Gareth Cull kicked very intelligently and we did not react very well in defence or counter-attack.

"Nevertheless, there were some positives to take out of the game, particularly the work by the pack in the scrums and the lineouts.

"On an individual front, flanker Andrew Dennis was once again absolutely superb, skipper Justin Hughes scrummaged well and also showed his leadership skills in trying to hold things together.

"We must take our hats off to the Quins who were the better side on the day.

"Our supporters will take heart from the fact that we are still a very young side and the defeat was only the second league game that we have lost since November of last year.

"There is plenty to look forward to, but at the same time we are aware that there is plenty of work to do as well."

Fullback Anthony Rees was nominated as the Carmarthen Quins man-of-the-match and flanker Andrew Dennis was chosen by the Narberth team management as the Otters' man-of-the-match.

Narberth fielded: Siôn Brace, Nick Jones, Steve Martin, Richard Davies, Tom Bonnell (Craig Barnett), Aled Davies, Andrew Davies (Adrian Killa), Ryan Perrott, Tom Slater, Dan Smith, Justin Hughes, capt., Chris James (David Ebsworth), Alex Jenkins, Gareth Bateman, Andrew Dennis and Jim Kaumahotoya (Derek Lewis).

Tomorrow (Saturday), Narberth are home to Cwmllynfell. The match will be preceded by a reunion of former players organised by the Narberth Rugby Club Former Players Association.