Narberth 22 pts.

UWIC 15

An injury time penalty and unconverted try resulted in another late win which kept the Otters at the top of the table, but only just, as the lack of a bonus point gave second placed Tata Steel the chance to keep chipping away at the points' gap between the two teams.

The Margam-based team have been collecting bonus points when the Narberth side has failed in recent weeks.

UWIC fly-half Mark Cooke gave his team the lead, with a penalty after 13 minutes, but a superb Narberth try by winger Matthew Davies after a brilliant delayed and weighted pass by centre Steve Martin put Narberth in front.

Davies still had some work to do to finish the move, but he is a dab hand at evading the desperate clutches of defenders. The try was converted from an awkward angle by outside-half Stuart Morris.

Prop Tom Slater extended the Narberth lead 16 minutes into the second half, with a try converted by Morris. It came from a powerful drive by the pack after a line-out, following a penalty kick to the bottom corner by Stuart Morris.

The visitors bounced back with a try from lock Jon Campbell, who looped around from the left touchline to get nearer the posts.

His efforts were appreciated by outside-half Mark Cooke who converted the try.

When Narberth number eight Steffan Phillips was cooling off in the sin bin, replacement prop Andy Berry gave the Cardiff students a narrow lead of one point with a try in the bottom right corner but the conversion attempt by Cooke hit the right upright.

That lead was carried into injury time, until an infringement by the visitors gave the Otters a chance to take the lead.

Five minutes into injury time and for the second week in succession, it was another difficult pressure penalty kick for Stuart Morris. He held his nerve and his accurate kick edged the Otters in front.

Any remaining doubts about the outcome were removed when the result was clinched by replacement winger Nick Jones who raced over in the right corner for an unconverted try, to give the Otters the spoils.

Commenting immediately after the match, Narberth head coach Sean Gale said: "It was another very good win, but we are a little disappointed as we had the chance of a bonus point and to win the league in the closing stages, bonus points are essential.

"The championship is not in our hands anymore, as Tata Steel have a game in hand, but we can look back and say that our recent long run of games without defeat has been a great achievement by the players in a fantastic season.

"UWIC are a very good side and like all teams coming to Narberth at present, regard the game as something like a cup final. Everyone wants to beat the top of the table league team.

"Whatever happens, the Narberth team has become used to winning this year and that mentality is a key ingredient to the success of any team."

Molson Coors Balcony Suite match sponsors Pantmawr Farmhouse Cheeses, nominated Narberth centre Richard Davies as man-o-the-match. There were also very good performances for Narberth by lock Giles Vaughan, replacement lock Chris James, flanker Wayne Williams and fly-half Stuart Morris who is gaining a reputation for kicking under pressure.

The Otters Holt match sponsors were Fossa Sports and the cup winning Narberth Youth team of 1971/72 and the match ball sponsors were Chris Viggars, of Simply Gardens, and the Narberth RFC Former Players Association.

Narberth fielded: Jonathan Morgan, Matthew Davies, Steve Martin (captain), Richard Davies, Tom Bonnell (Nick Jones), Stuart Morris, Adrian Killa (Andrew Davies), Lewis Davies, Dan Smith (Gareth John), Tom Slater, Giles Vaughan, Alex Jenkins (Chris James), Gareth Bateman (Timoci Kaumaitotoya), Steffan Phillips and Wayne Williams.

Replacements: Andrew Davies, Matthew Davies, Timoci Kaumaitotoya, Gareth Jones and Lewis Davies.