Bargoed 35 pts. Narberth 13

For the second week on the trot, the Otters were outgunned away to a powerful Eastern Valleys side and this time crashed to a 35-13 away defeat at Bargoed.

With a blue sky and sunshine, Bargoed Park looked resplendent overlooking the Rhymney Valley.

Although the welcome was warm, in ideal rugby conditions, the Otters were no match for the physicality of the bigger Bargoed players when the hosts moved up a gear in the second half.

In an even first half, Bargoed showed their intentions from the outset with a first minute unconverted try from wing Lee Pearson, followed with a penalty kick from fly-half Josh Prosser.

Bargoed added a second unconverted try through wing Gavin Ferguson which was not converted, before the Otters struck back with an unconverted try by flanker Stuart Worrall.

A last minute unconverted try before the interval by Otters wing Duncan Evans gave the hosts a three points lead at the break.

When the Otters levelled the scores through a Ianto Griffiths penalty in the first few minutes of the second half, it looked for a while, as if the visitors would be back in the game with a vengeance. It failed to materialise as Bargoed added unconverted tries by Gavin Ferguson and number eight, Nicky Coughlin.

The gap opened up even further with Bargoed being awarded a penalty try, converted by Josh Prosser.

Minutes before the final whistle there was a general melee which resulted in Bargoed flanker Steffan Jouxson being red carded, but the hosts had the final word with an unconverted try scored by lock Darren Lynch, from the last play of the game.

Commenting after the match, Narberth team management spokesman Robert Lewis said: "We started poorly and put ourselves under early pressure. Bargoed seized the opportunity to take advantage and build up a lead, but we fought back just after the interval to level the scores at 13-all.

"We lost our way somewhat afterwards and were severely handicapped when two key players, the experienced pair of lock Alex Jenkins and number eight Lewis Wood, both left the field through injury.

"In a very physical contest, as the game went on, we were not able to compete with the same intensity and Bargoed got on top, with their threequarters looking particularly dangerous."

In a display which will not live long in the memories of the players, scrum-half Adrian Killa and flanker Stuart Worrall were the pick of the Narberth team on the day.

Narberth fielded: Jonathan Morgan (Nick Gale), Duncan Evans, Richard Davies, Jason Howells, Steve Martin (capt), Ianto Griffiths, Adrian Killa (Rhys Lane), Owen Jordan (Ollie Evans), Dan Smith, Tom Slater, Adam Clark, Alex Jenkins (Timoci Kaumaitotoya), Dylan Richards, Stuart Worrall and Lewis Wood (Simon Griffiths).