Narberth 29 pts. Ebbw Vale 10

The Otters raised their game to unprecedented levels to spring the shock result of the Championship season in registering an outstanding win at home against runaway winners Ebbw Vale. It was a match described by many, as the best game they had ever seen at the Lewis Lloyd ground in Narberth Invincible all season, the Steelmen had travelled to Pembrokeshire to celebrate their magnificent season, but losing to Narberth was not part of their weekend plans. They wanted to be promoted to the Premiership as unbeaten champions. It was not to be, although they were magnanimous in defeat. Most of the Ebbw Vale team, together with many of the officials and supporters, stayed at various locations in or around Narberth and the Pembrokeshire coastal resorts, which must have been a boost to tourism in the area. Ebbw Vale chairman Jonathan Jones spoke following various pos- match presentations in the clubhouse. Addressing players, officials and supporters, he said: "Congratulating to Narberth on winning the match. On the day, we were beaten by the better side. Although we are disappointed to lose our unbeaten run, we are glad that it has been lost to a well-supported team who play attractive rugby in the right way and the right spirit." The wind was strong at the back of the stand, but would have been much greater for the players on the pitch. Playing against the daunting wind in the first half, many supporters of both teams anticipated an Ebbw Vale onslaught. It failed to materialise through the dogged defence and determination of every man jack of the Otters team. Wave after wave was repelled and this massive defensive effort in the first half was the key to the Narberth success on the day. It was not just defence, however, as the Narberth players were keen to attack at every opportunity and it was the Otters who drew first blood to take an early lead through a Nick Gale penalty kick. It was followed 10 minutes later with an unconverted try for Dan Smith, who finished off a good move by the pack to score, but with the strength of the wind it was hardly surprising that the conversion attempt failed. Ebbw fly-half Iain Smerdon reduced the lead with a penalty kick, but Otters supporters were brought to their feet once again, when scrum-half Rhys Lane finished off a handling movement, with a try, converted by fly-half Ianto Griffiths. It was initiated by a superb break from skipper Steve Martin, with the move highlighted on television in the 'Scrum V' programme on Sunday evening. The Steelmen's replacement lock Spencer Gibson was yellow-carded within in a minute of coming on to the field, but wing Luke Davies crossed for a try for Ebbw Vale in the left corner converted by Iain Smerdon. Otters supporters stood to applaud the Narberth team on their way to the dressing room for the half-time break. Doubts about whether the Otters could defend their slender five points lead were soon dispelled in the second half. The Otters soon extended their advantage with a breath-taking try by wing Nick Gale in the right corner. Scrum-half Rhys lane broke on the blindside. Hemmed in, he chipped the ball through a tight gap and Gale did the rest, by showing a clean pair of heels to the Ebbw defenders. Although Narberth flanker Stuart Worrall was sin-binned, Ianto Griffiths landed two penalties when the Otters were reduced to 14 men, one of which was kicked from the halfway line. Stuart Worrall's return to the pitch was short-lived, when he was yellow-carded once again to receive an automatic red card, but even with a player short the Otters had the last word with a penalty kick from Ianto Griffiths. Not only was it an exhilarating result for the Narberth team, but it was also a just result. Jubilant Jonathan Dodd, the Narberth director of rugby, commenting after the match, said: "Obviously we are over the moon by taking Ebbw Vale's unbeaten record off them. It was a fantastic defensive effort from all 18 of the players who came on to the field and shows what we are capable of, when we get it together. "Certainly it was our best performance of the season. We played the conditions very well, with such a strong wind, and it was a really good end of season game." The Health Centre Balcony Suite match sponsors, DP Building Supplies, selected Narberth flanker Dylan Richards as man-of-the-match on a day when it was difficult to single out any one of the Narberth players, all of whom were men-of-the-match. The Folly Farm Otters Holt match sponsors were the parents and families of the club's junior teams. The match ball sponsors were Martin James and Friends, Gareth Morgan and Friends, Penderi Pine and Whitland and St. Clears Trots. Narberth fielded: Jonathan Morgan, Nick Gale, Steve Martin (capt.), Richard Davies, Jason Howells, Rhys Lane, Sean Lloyd (Ollie Evans), Dan Smith, Tom Slater (Simon Gardiner), Adam Clarke, Alex Jenkins, Dylan Richards (Timoci Kaumaitotoya), Stuart Worrall and Gareth Bateman (Timoci Kaumaitotoya).