BEDDAU 30 pts.
NARBERTH 23
Morale must have been at a low ebb on the road back from Mount Pleasant on Saturday as Narberth surrendered a 20-3 lead to lose to Beddau by 30 points to 23.
The second away defeat in as many weeks in National League division one, the Otters dominated the first half, but lost the advantage when influential scrum-half Chris Macdonald was yellow-carded just before the break.
Playing conditions deteriorated as the game wore on, and Beddau used their home advantage and sloping pitch to good effect, notching up 20 second half points without reply to steal a vital victory.
Following some initial sparring, which saw Narberth stand-off Gareth James and Beddau's Greg Jones both miss penalties, it was the Otters who stole a march.
With skipper Simon Davies marshalling his pack well and leading by example as always, Narberth kept the pressure on the homesters in their own 22, allowing James to capitalise on defensive infringements by slotting over two penalties.
With locks Jamie Bohata and Jason Jennings in control in the linesout and number eight Mark David pressurising the gain line alongside skipper Davies and back row colleague Meurig Daniel, Narberth's cause was further boosted when Beddau flanker Steve Cole was given 10 minutes in the sin bin.
The visitors took full advantage of their numerical superiority up front to bag the day's first try.
Otters centre Elgan Vittle made the initial break when he intercepted in his own half and chipped ahead down the slope.
Wayne Jones and Macdonald closed down the Beddau defence for Narberth's pack to drive in and recycle possession out to prop Alan Phillips who crashed over.
James added the extras and was on hand to add a touchline conversion after wing Nick Jones squirmed his way through on the blind side for Narberth's second try.
Looking comfortably placed with a 17-point advantage with the interval looming, Narberth suffered a body blow when Macdonald was yellow-carded for an infringement after being upset by a refereeing decision.
Beddau capitalised, with scrum-half Gareth Jones taking a quick tap penalty before looping around his driving pack, collecting possession and crossing halfway out on the right.
Fullback Jones added the extras to put the homesters back in the game, although James extended Narberth's advantage just before the change around with another penalty from long range.
While Narberth had opted to try to keep the ball in hand playing down the slope in the first half, Beddau's experienced player/coach, former Welsh international Chris Bridges, opted to kick for field position.
The pivot's decision to use grubber kicks through, rather than work the box area, reaped dividends, with the ball slithering around on the greasy pitch to cause problems for the Narberth defence.
Beddau number eight Dean Barnes reduced the arrears with a push-over try converted by Jones, but Jones was less successful with a penalty attempt minutes later.
James also failed with a place kick for the Otters, before Beddau reduced the gap to just one point when flanker Cole made up for blotting his copybook earlier with an unconverted try.
While Jones dropped a long range penalty under the bar, Beddau were firing on all cylinders, Barnes picking up his second touchdown by winning the kick and chase to a well-directed Bridges ball.
The try went unconverted, but Beddau fullback Gareth Jones put the result beyond doubt in the 77th minute when he slotted over a drop goal which appeared to knock all resistance out of the Otters.
It was a bitter blow for the Otters, who were up against a team with the knowledge of how best to play their own pitch under the elements.
Narberth are confident enough and have the experience to be able to do the same when they welcome high-flying Carmarthen Quins to the Lewis Lloyd ground tomorrow (Saturday).
Narberth fielded: Wayne Jones, Nick Jones, Elgan Vittle, Andrew Bowen, Andrew Jones, Gareth James, Chris Macdonald, Andrew Howell, Craig Hawkins, Alan Phillips, Jamie Bohata, Jason Jennings, Meurig Daniel, Mark David, Simon Davies (capt.).