Whitland rounded off a difficult first year in National League division one with another success on Saturday, albeit by the narrowest of margins against Newbridge.

After struggling to find their feet in the upper ranks at the start of the season, coming precariously close to the big drop, the Borderers turned their fortunes around after Christmas ending their 2001/02 campaign in a respectable mid-table position.

It may have been the end of the season, but Newbridge were in no mood to coast for 90 minutes, putting the Green and Whites under the cosh from the outset.

In a physical encounter, tensions erupted midway through the first half, with flying fists on both sides before the teams settled down to their rugby.

The Gwent side stole an early march when centre Andrew Green ghosted over for a try, but Whitland struck back when scrum half Rob Phillips sent his half back partner Daniel Griffiths on a jinking run in from the visitors' 22.

Griffiths touched down under the posts to give himself the simplest of conversions and then added a penalty to extend the homesters' lead.

Newbridge stand-off Jason Williams reduced the arrears with a penalty, but Griffiths added another three pointer to restore the Borderers' advantage before slotting over a long range drop goal to make it 16-8 at the break.

The visitors bounced right back after the change around when Williams caught the homesters napping with a chip to space and centre Gareth Turner won the chase to touch down under the posts.

Williams converted to bring the visitors to within one point of the Green and Whites.

With skipper Phil Morgan leading from the front and Romeo Collella, Steve Gerrard Anthony Jakeman, Fakataha Molitika and Derek Thomas following his example, Whitland threw up the shutters in the second half to hold on to their slender advantage.

Williams missed with a drop goal for the visitors while Griffiths and Gavin Morris were also similarly unsuccessful for Whitland as both teams looked to settle the issue.

However, in tension filled time added on, Williams had two opportunities for the Gwent side to snatch the spoils with two penalties is quick succession but fortune favoured the Green and Whites and he was off target with both efforts.

Whitland fielded: Wayne Lewis, Craig Richards, Lee Banfield, Dominic Setaro, Gavin Morris, Daniel Griffiths, Rob Philips, Romeo Collella, Steve Gerrard, Ricky Davies, Anthony Jakeman, Fakataha Molitika, Randall Williams, Phil Morgan, Derek Thomas.