Narberth 15 pts. Dunvant 5

On a playing surface where it became increasingly difficult to play rugby, this game was won and lost in the first half when the Otters built up a lead of 15 points.

Unable to play their normal expansive game of running rugby throughout the match, Narberth produced a workmanlike performance to make sure of a win, combined with a rock solid defence.

Nick Jones gave the Otters the lead after seven minutes following a move which started with a scrum near the Dunvant 22.

Lock-forward Jamie Bohata combined with scrum-half Andrew Davies and fullback Matthew Davies, before Nick Jones was released to race over in the right corner for an unconverted try.

The lead was extended following a series of Narberth attacks when scrum-half Andrew Davies was the beneficiary of constant pressure on the Dunvant line as he crossed for a try converted by outside-half Aled Davies.

A penalty by Aled Davies from 30 metres extended the lead to 15 points and Davies was denied a second penalty five minutes before half-time when his attempt hit the posts.

The Otters continued to attack and Aled Davies threw out a long looping pass to winger Nick Jones, who had the line at his mercy when the slippery ball fell to ground.

Two former Otters, Gareth James and Simon Daniel, were playing for Dunvant and James had a chance to reduce the lead three minutes into the second half, but he was off target with the penalty attempt.

After 61 minutes, Dunvant scored an unconverted try with a piece of good fortune when centre Mike Arnold was in an ideal position to intercept an inside pass from winger Jonathan Morgan in touching distance of the Narberth line.

Narberth were reduced to 14 players after 65 minutes when hooker Dan Smith was yellow-carded, but prevented Dunvant from taking advantage of having the extra man and the visitors were unable to add to the points scored from the unconverted try.

Commenting after the match, Narberth's director of rugby, Jonathan Dodd, said: "We are very pleased to get a win against Dunvant who have improved a lot since the start of the season.

"Conditions were very heavy for both sides, but the rugby played in the first half was of quite a high standard. As the pitch deteriorated, so did the quality of the rugby.

"We were a little disappointed that we did not see a lot of rugby after the break and we let Dunvant compete with us in the second half. Enough chances were created for us to score more tries, but the opportunities were not taken.

"The Narberth forwards in particular played very well in the first half.

"As coaches, we were happy with the attitude of the boys, who managed to grind out a win in such difficult conditions.

"On an individual front, it was good to see Chris James back in action at lock and he combined well with Alex Jenkins to cause problems for the visitors. Andrew Dennis as flanker was solid in defence and creative in attack, while behind the scrum, outside-half Aled Davies played a good territorial game and Jonathan Morgan worked hard on the wing."

Narberth number eight Jamie Bohata, who was acting as skipper for the afternoon, was nominated as man-of-the-match by the Folly Farm Balcony Suite match sponsors, the Self Employed Mob.

Dawnus acted as the Otters' Holt match sponsors and the match ball was sponsored by the Pwll Trap Boys.

A large group of former Narberth players enjoyed meeting up prior to the match when the Narberth Rugby Club Former Players Association organised a lunch-time reunion.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Narberth are home to Kenfig Hill in the fourth round of the SWALEC Welsh Cup.

Narberth fielded: Matthew Davies, Nick Jones, Richard Davies, Neil Davies (Steve Martin), Jonathan Morgan, Aled Davies, Andrew Davies (Adrian Killa), Ryan Perrott, Dan Smith, Tom Slater, Chris James (David Ebsworth), Alex Jenkins, Jim Kaumahotoya (Richard Sharpe-Williams), Andrew Dennis and Jamie Bohata (capt.).