After such an encouraging display against Llangennech the previous week, Narberth plunged to the depths at home to Bridgend Athletic, who produced some scintillating rugby to win the match.

The Otters were taken out of the game in the first eight minutes after the lively Athletic team had established a lead of 17 points.

Spectators were still finding their way to their seats when fullback Steve Lewis opened the scoring after 30 seconds.

The Otters had been unable to take the ball cleanly from the kick-off.

It bounced precariously, the visitors were in support in numbers and Steve Lewis made no mistake after receiving the scoring pass.

Outside-half Stuart Morris was unable to convert from the right touchline.

After three minutes, the visitors increased the lead following an exciting move up the left flank, which ended with winger Dylan Mafi showing pace and determination to cross for a try converted by Stuart Morris.

In both of the opening tries, the visitors had taken advantage of some slip-shod defending.

The next try came from some slipshod attacking by Narberth and the ball was intercepted by winger Rhodri Davies inside the Narberth half. Davies raced up the right touchline and crossed for an unconverted try in the right corner.

After 14 minutes, the Otters had a chance to get some points on the board on being awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Narberth opted for the scrum, but Bridgend Athletic won the ball against the head and the advantage was lost.

Scrum-half Chris MacDonald was making his first appearance for Narberth at home since rejoining the club from Llanelli.

After 27 minutes, he clawed back five points. Although he might have lost a yard in pace, he remains a danger man anywhere near the posts and he finished off a forward movement with a blindside run which ended with an unconverted try.

Stuart Morris had a chance to increase the Bridgend Athletic lead with a penalty on the stroke of half- time, but was off target.

In the second half, the visitors increased the lead after 12 minutes when substitute prop Wayne Fookes finished off a forward movement near the posts with a try converted by Stuart Morris. Morris missed out on another penalty chance, before Dylan Mafi picked up his second try of the match. From a scrum near the right touchline, the ball was moved quickly across field to the left and Mafi cut inside to score halfway out. This time Morris was on target with the conversion attempt, but he missed another penalty opportunity in the closing minutes of the match.

In injury time, substitute outside-half Mathew Davies produced a little bit of magic for the Otters, to brighten up the day for Narberth supporters. Davies is the sort of player who makes something happen and, although he was on the field for less than 10 minutes, he made three breaks.

On the third attempt from a scrum, he carried the break through for a try under the posts.

Winger Nick Jones opted to take the conversion attempt with a drop kick, but was unable to score to complete a sad day for Narberth in their first home league match of the season.

Commenting after the match, director of rugby, Jonathan Dodd, said: "We had a disappointing result, but full credit to Bridgend Athletic who played some very good rugby, particularly in the loose. As a result, we could not get our set-piece play going.

"We were very laboured and some players appeared to be going through the motions. There were a lot of poor performances, particularly in our defence, which had been so good in our first league game last week and in pre-season friendlies.

"We had a nightmare start when they scored 17 points in eight minutes and we failed to recover. I thought we could come back and turn it around in the second half, but we lacked the necessary killer instinct on the day.

"With all of the progress we have made in the build up to the season and in our opening matches, we have taken a couple of steps backwards today. We lacked a cutting edge behind and some organisation in midfield defence.

"However, we will bounce back and the players are determined to regroup for our away game at Builth Wells next week."

It was one of those days where few players raised their heads above the parapet. Hooker Dan Smith kept trying up front and lock Chris James was nominated man-of-the-match by the Folly Farm Balcony Suite match sponsors, the S.B.D. Gang.

G. D. Harries and Sons, of Narberth, were the Otters Holt match sponsors and the match ball was sponsored by the Contented Sole, of Narberth, and Narberth Rugby Club Former Players Association. Narberth fielded: Sion Brace (capt.), Nick Jones, Dafydd Evans, Mike Georgiou, Mark Davies, Steve Williams (Mathew Davies), Chris MacDonald, Justin Hughes (Scott Payne), Dan Smith, Nathan Williams (Alan Phillips), Chris James, Darren Morgan (Emori Katalau), Kevin Bratcher, Mathew Davies and Jamie Bohata.