Brynmawr travelled to Narberth unbeaten, but left the Lewis Lloyd Ground pointless after suffering their first defeat of the season.

It was the result of an excellent team performance by the Otters who kept their line intact, denied Brynmawr outside-half Jason Williams the chance to increase his record league points tally and also took all chances which were available.

Place kicking duo Simon Daniel and Gareth James scored all the points for Narberth in the first half to set up a lead of nine points at half-time.

Outside-half Simon Daniel slotted over the first penalty after six minutes, followed by a penalty by fullback Gareth James and then eight minutes before interval Daniel was on target again during a period when Brynmawr had been reduced to 14 players as lock forward Damian Hudd had received a yellow card following some over-aggressive play.

At the start of the second half, the Otters came out with all guns firing and following a brilliant break by winger Andrew Jones, who ran down the right flank before cutting inside, fullback Gareth James came into the line to cross in the left corner for an unconverted try.

Elgan Vittle has made something of a name for himself by scoring or setting up tries for Narberth by intercepting opposition passes.

The ever-alert centre did the business again when he anticipated and then intercepted a pass just outside the Brynmawr 22 to race over under the posts for a try converted by Simon Daniel.

Although the visitors strove to get back into the game, the Otters were always in control and on the occasions when Brynmawr made any ground, they were sent back with interest following some well-judged kicking out of hand by Simon Daniel.

The try by Vittle completed the scoring for the afternoon and most of the Narberth substitutes also made an appearance before the final whistle.

The win was set up by the pack who dominated the set-pieces as well as being livelier in the loose. The front five excelled in the scrums, while Jason Jennings and David Ebsworth won lineout ball cleanly on the Narberth throws as well as disrupting the Brynmawr lineout.

Flankers Meurig Daniel and Gary Denver were excellent, while number eight Katilimoni Tuipulotu has now settled in to the Narberth way of playing rugby and assists and encourages the players around him as well as being on top of his own game.

Chris MacDonald and Simon Daniel marshalled proceedings behind the scrum, while Andrew Bowen and Elgan Vittle repelled all Bryn attempts to move the ball down the middle of the park.

Speaking after the match, team manager Robert Lewis said: "It was an excellent result and it was a particularly pleasing that we did not concede any points and did not give away any penalties.

"We were in control from the start following a magnificent performance by the pack, backed up by top quality all-round play from half-backs Simon Daniel and Chris MacDonald.

"It followed on from the second half display at Tredegar the previous week and we need to maintain this form for our remaining matches this month with a challenging away fixture at Rumney next week and a tough home encounter with Blackwood the following Saturday."

Chris MacDonald and prop Barry Davies were nominated as the Narberth men-of-the-match by the sponsors, Jones Brothers Builders, of Narberth.

The match ball was sponsored by Colin Davies, Derek James, Martyn Phillips, Phillip Williams, Stephen Thomas and John Merriman, of Templeton, and the Narberth Former Players Association.

The supporters bus for Rumney will leave the clubhouse at 12.15 pm tomorrow.

Narberth fielded: Gareth James, Nick Jones, Elgan Vittle, Andrew Bowen, Andrew Jones, Simon Daniel, Chris MacDonald (Adrian Killa), Barry Davies (Fifitapuku Faletau), Simon Delaney (Kevin Allen), Alan Phillips, David Ebsworth (Jamie Bohata), Jason Jennings, Meurig Daniel, Gary Denver (Mathew Evans) and Katilimoni Tuipulotu (Gareth Bennett).