Narberth 17 pts. Carmarthen Quins 42

After taking the game by the scruff of the neck in the first 20 minutes to build up a lead of 10 points, the Otters were forced to surrender that advantage as the Quins fought back and maintained their unbeaten record to pick up a bonus point win.

The match started at a frantic pace and a neutral observer would have thought that it was the Otters leading the table in Division One West and not the Quins.

Winger Jonathan Morgan came close to scoring in the corner after six minutes and, although flanker Gareth Bateman was yellow-carded, a minute later Morgan did open the scoring after eight minutes.

He finished off a brilliant handling movement in the left corner after flanker Colin Davies had started the move with a surging run out of the Narberth 22. The ball was taken on and a good pass by outside-half Aled Davies released centre Richard Davies to punch a hole in the Quins' defence before he released Morgan to race over in the left corner.

Aled Davies added the icing to the cake by converting from the touchline and after 21 minutes an excellent drop-goal by Davies increased the lead.

Gradually the Quins were coming into their own and a penalty by outside-half Gareth Cull after 24 minutes reduced the lead to seven points.

The lead was eroded further when number eight Chris Jones ran on to a cross-field grubber kick by Gareth Cull to cross for an unconverted try halfway out on the left.

After 33 minutes, the Quins took the lead for the first time when fullback Anthony Davies came into the line to cross for a try in the right corner, converted by Gareth Cull, after play switched from left to right.

On the stroke of half-time, scrum-half Ricky Richards extended the lead with a try set up after good work by winger Neil Wilcox and Gareth Cull converted to give the visitors a lead of 12 points at the interval.

A penalty by Gareth Cull increased the lead early on in the second half. And it was stretched further when a burst from outside the 22 by centre Jason Harries ended with Harries scoring a try, converted by Gareth Cull, to put the game out of reach for the Otters.

Narberth had not given up, however, and winger Jonathan Morgan did well to hold on to a diagonal punt by Aled Davies and he cut inside to cross for a try near the posts, converted by Davies.

The Quins suffered a blow after 63 minutes when lock forward Martin Morgan was red-carded for an alleged stamping incident.

Despite being reduced to 14 players, another tremendous burst by centre Jason Harries after an interception inside his own half resulted in a try for Harries, converted by Gareth Cull.

It was Cull who rounded off the scoring with a penalty for the Quins in injury time.

Speaking after the match, Narberth's director of rugby, Jonathan Dodd, said: "We were very pleased with the performance today as the boys put in a lot of effort against an extremely good Carmarthen Quins side.

"Our set piece was under pressure and we gave away a fair bit of ball, but when we had possession we showed that we could do something with it.

"Full credit to the Quins, who are the strongest side that we have faced here all season. The Carmarthen team fully deserve to be where they are in the league table. They are a good professional side who deserve to be in a division above.

"We've got to be happy that we've competed and the fact that we gave away an interception try right at the death meant that the points differential was higher than it should have been.

"However, there are no complaints. There was plenty of effort by the Narberth team and two good sides played an excellent game of rugby.

"On an individual front, outside-half Aled Davies had his best game of the season, young winger Jonathan Morgan took his two tries well and had a good all round game. He is one of a number of younger players at the club who are developing and coming through."

Otters' winger Jonathan Morgan was nominated as the man-of-the-match.

Mole Forage Services were the Folly Farm Balcony Suite match sponsors and Gwili Jones and Son were the Otters' Holt match sponsors. Castell Hywel Foods were the Players Bar sponsors and the ball sponsors were the Landshipping Boys, Graham Searle and Friends and Simply Gardens, Narberth.

Narberth fielded: Matthew Davies (Craig Barnett), Jonathan Morgan, Steve Martin, Richard Davies, Nick Jones, Aled Davies, Adrian Killa (Andrew Davies), Ryan Perrott (Tom Slater), Dan Smith, Justin Hughes captain, Chris James (Jason Jennings), Alex Jennings, Gareth Bateman, Colin Davies and Jamie Bohata (Richard Sharpe-Williams).

Tomorrow (Saturday), Narberth are away to Tonmawr, who leapfrogged over the Otters after Saturday's rearranged matches.