Narberth 28 pts

Ebbw Vale 45

A last minute try, the fourth of the afternoon scored by the Otters, enabled the Narberth team to secure sixth position in the Swalec Championship table, by picking up a vital bonus point, despite losing to the champions Ebbw Vale, who had the advantage with a 6-4 try count.

Some weeks ago, Narberth director of rugby Jonathan Dodd described Ebbw Vale as being "A top six Premiership side playing in the Championship."

You could see why they had taken the league by storm this season, although it was the first time in at least two seasons that Ebbw had conceded four tries in a league match.

Narberth formed a guard of honour for Ebbw Vale who had been confirmed as league champions earlier in the week.

The visitors played in their pink strip, which went down well with spectators as funds were being raised for Cancer Breast Care by the Narberth Ladies during and after the match.

In a fast moving open match, the Steelmen led 21-11 at the interval following tries by wing Dan Ajuwa, centre Polo Uhi and fullback Charlie Simpson, all of which were converted by debutant fly-half Dan Butler.

The Narberth scores had come from a penalty by fly-half James Stephenson, which had given his team an early lead, followed by another penalty by Stephenson and a try by powerful running centre Oli Reyland converted by Stephenson.

In the second half, Ebbw added three more tries, the first of which came from an interception on the halfway line by centre Adam Jones, followed by a brace of tries by fleet-footed wing Wes Cunliffe. The three tries were converted by Butler who had also chipped in with a penalty for good measure, in a one hundred percent success rate with his place kicking.

Narberth had replied with a great try from wing Nick Jones, playing in his last game for the club before retiring after making 199 appearances in Narberth colours.

Jones raced up the right touchline in front of the stand to collect a chip ahead and outpaced the trailing defenders to score a memorable try.

His try was supplemented by tries from quick off the mark flanker Wayne Williams and by replacement wing Rhys Lane with the last move of the match, when he touched down in the left corner.

Lane's try was converted by James Stephenson.

Commenting on the match, Narberth head coach Sean Gale said: "We played to our potential and scored four lovely tries against a very good Ebbw Vale side.

"Ebbw had a few breakaway tries and were a bit more clinical than us. Nevertheless, we competed in the set-piece, our attack was very good, as was our kicking game, but Ebbw Vale were too experienced and deserved to win.

"To finish off the last game of the season against the champions, to fight hard and to stay stuck in for the whole 80 minutes with a try at the end was a very good performance.

"As coaches we were very proud of the boys for the way that they stuck in there and showed a lot of guts.

"Ebbw Vale are the best side in the Championship by a long shot, but they knew that they had been in a game."

The County Financial Otters Holt match sponsors were County Financial Consultants who selected Otters fullback Jonathan Morgan as the man of the match.

The Health Centre Balcony Suite match sponsors, Narberth Ladies Breast Cancer Care fundraisers, selected Wayne Williams as the Narberth man of the match and Pole Uhi as the Ebbw man of the match.

There were also very good performances by scrum-half Adrian Killa, centre Oli Reyland and all the back row.

The match ball sponsors were the Cross Inn, Clarbeston Road, Merydd Bakery, of Llandissilio, St. Clears Trots, Bill and Doug and John Mathias and Friends.

Narberth fielded: Jonathan Morgan, Nick Jones (Rhys Lane), Oli Reyland, Richard Davies, James Russell, James Stephenson, Adrian Killa, Sean Lloyd (Steffan Jones), Dan Smith, Tom Slater, Chris James (Gyles Vaughan), Alex Jenkins, Lawrence Reynolds (Simon Griffiths), Wayne Williams and Timoci Kaumaitotoya.