Bridgend Ath. 28 pts. Narberth 27

A yellow card coupled with a disorganised defence in the last minute of the game allowed Bridgend Athletic to snatch a last-ditch win with the final move of the game with a converted try when the Otters had been leading by six points.

A pulsating game, played in excellent conditions, with no wind or rain at the vast and open expanse of Newbridge Fields - despite the atrocious journey from Pembrokeshire in persistent rain - this was compelling viewing throughout.

Outside-half Rhys Davies gave the Otters the lead after three minutes with a penalty, which was cancelled out with a penalty kick from his opposite number Corey Butler after five minutes and then increased with another Butler penalty.

The first try of the match came on 16 minutes when Athletic created some space on the left flank after a slick passing movement for winger Lloyd Pemberton to exploit, before he cut inside to touch down for a try converted by Corey Butler.

Narberth winger Tom Bonnell scored the first try for the visitors following a similar passing movement and Bonnell sped alongside the right touchline, before he also cut inside for a try converted by Rhys Davies.

The Narberth lead was short-lived. Corey Butler levelled the scores with another on target penalty kick, but in a match where the lead changed hands constantly, the visitors edged ahead again when Tom Bonnell went over the line for a try in the right corner, which was converted by a precision strike from the reliable boot of Rhys Davies

The Otters' lead was reduced to 20-16 at half-time when Corey Butler was on target to convert his third penalty before the break.

Both teams battled hard for the first 25 minutes and the Otters appeared to lose a bit of their shape as Athletic began to look the more dangerous team when going forward.

Winger Michael Powell restored the Bridgend lead with an unconverted try, but with the visitors behind by just one point after 35 minutes, Tom Bonnell put the Otters ahead again to complete an excellent hat-trick and once again Rhys Davies was the man who converted a difficult conversion kick from the touchline.

A yellow card for Tom Bonnell in injury time proved to be the turning point in the tense closing minutes of the game, with both teams searching for the vital score.

Athletic used the advantage in numbers to good effect deep into injury time with a try from winger Michael Powell in the very last play of the match.

It came from a quick and well-organised tapped penalty, when the ball was moved from left to right for Michael Powell to finish the move and exploit the numerical difference when he crashed over in the right corner.

There was not a sound from the players and spectators as Corey Butler took the vital conversion kick. It proved to be the Athletic match winner when Butler was cool under immense pressure to give the Bridgend team the spoils in an absorbing contest.

Once again a number of young Narberth players drew plaudits from the coaching staff and supporters. In particular, there were good performances by young open-side flanker Jake Iles, in his first start in the league, fullback Adam Phillips and Rhys Davies.

The finishing of Tom Bonnell was out of the top drawer and he must now be considered to be one of the best wingers in Division One West.

Interviewed immediately after the match, Narberth team manager Robert Lewis said: "It was very disappointing to lose with the last move of the game and to see the conversion kick from the touchline on target.

"The players gave a lot of effort, generally the defence was good and everyone worked hard.

"Unfortunately, we were a little bit slack out wide, to let Bridgend Athletic in for a couple of simple tries.

"It is always disappointing to lose right at the end. The seven minutes of injury time, during which winger Tom Bonnell received a yellow card, made all of the difference.

"The forwards played well in an open game which could have gone either way. We just have to take it on the chin and move on."

Narberth fielded: Adam Phillips, Tom Bonnell, Steve Martin (capt.), Richard Davies, Jonathan Morgan, Andrew Davies, Rhys Davies, Sean Lloyd, Gareth Jones, Tom Slater, Jason Jennings, Alex Jenkins, Gareth Bateman, Jake Iles and Colin Davies. Replacements: Nick Jones, Adrian Killa, Dan Smith, Nathan Bowen and Wayne Williams.