Narberth 33 pts.

UWIC 35

What a game for the neutral spectator. Expansive rugby throughout the afternoon, five tries apiece and a narrow win for the visitors, who made fewer mistakes and took their chances.

Weather permitting; it was always going to be this sort of game with the way that both teams approach their rugby. However, the big difference between the sides was that that the young students were match fit having continued to play regularly throughout the autumn rugby international period, whereas the Otters were rusty after their period of inactivity without any league rugby.

Influential fullback Roger Davies gave the Otters the lead after six minutes through a try converted by outside-half Aled Davies and five minutes later the students came back with a try from fullback Dan Bibby which went unconverted.

Roger Davies scored again after 27 minutes when he chased a ball hacked up field and touched down halfway out on the right and his try again was converted by Aled Davies.

The scoring for the first half was completed when UWIC captain and number eight Richard De Carpentier went over for an unconverted try after the Otters had conceded a penalty.

The Narberth lead was reduced to one point just after the interval when UWIC outside-half David Bird slotted over a penalty from 35 metres, but the end to end action continued, with Narberth winger Nick Jones taking advantage of an overlap to cross for a try converted by Aled Davies.

Pacey UWIC winger Ed Tellwright got the students back into the game with a try converted by David Bird, but the Otters opened up the gap again after 58 minutes when a piece of quick thinking by scrum-half Adrian Killa enabled him to outwit the students and cross for an unconverted try from a maul.

A second try of the match for Richard De Carpentier put the students in front once again and that lead was extended when hooker Jack Yeandle went over for a try converted by Bird.

Narberth were awarded a penalty after 76 minutes, but the Otters decided to kick for a lineout rather than make sure of a bonus point by kicking at the posts. The ball was lost in the resultant scrum and the Otters were on the back foot.

In the last ditch attempt to retrieve something from the game, the Otters scored a try in injury time when replacement back row forward Lewis Wood went over the line for a try converted by Aled Davies, and with a couple of minutes to go, nerves in both camps were jangling.

The Otters had a long distance penalty opportunity with the last kick of the match from the touchline. The kick by Aled Davies had the length, but the ball shaved the posts.

Commenting after the match, Narberth head coach Sean Gale said: "I was very disappointed with the result. We have had a really good home record and after the tremendous display against Bridgend, I was bitterly disappointed with the performance of the home team.

"We had not played for three weeks and it showed.

"UWIC play each Wednesday and Saturday in College Cup competitions and deserved their victory. Our set-piece was very good, but we did not make the most of that and our territorial game was quite poor.

"UWIC took their chances and we missed too many tackles.

"Fullback Roger Davies scored two very good tries, hooker Dan Smith carried the ball well and Lewis Wood made an impact as a second half replacement.

"We will have to work hard in training, identify the problems and get motivated to come back bouncing in our next match away at Felinfoel.

"The UWIC team are a good bunch of youngsters. What gutted me the most was that a few of our players expected to win rather than fight for the win. As coaches, we've got to get that fighting spirit and desire to win back."

The Folly Farm Suite match sponsors, the Vice Presidents and Guests, nominated Narberth fullback Roger Davies as the man-of-the-match.

The match ball was sponsored by the Narberth Former Players Association, the Landshipping Boys, St Clears Running and Orienteering Club and Keith Jones Haulage.

Narberth fielded: Roger Davies, Nick Jones, Richard Davies, Steve Martin, Marc Heywood, Aled Davies, Adrian Killa, Sean Lloyd, Dan Smith, Justin Hughes (capt.), Alex Jenkins, Chris James, Chris Scarf, Wayne Williams and Gareth Bateman.

Replacements - Lee Glanville, Andrew Davies, Simon Griffiths, Lewis Wood and Tom Slater.