Rugby Division One UWIC 25 Narberth 21 Narberth's excellent run of five league wins on the trot was brought to an end at Cyncoed, Cardiff.

They went down to the students of UWIC in a top-of-the-table clash where they were always in with a chance of snatching a victory, but couldn't quite grasp the initiative for long enough.

The teams shared 22 first half points but the Otters were never ahead in that time - and it was a similar story after the break as UWIC kept narrowly ahead once they had gone back in front.

Gareth James missed an early penalty chance for Narberth, but then twice exchanged penalties with opposite number Nathan Hopkins in the opening 25 minutes.

The students then grabbed the first try when a good lineout ball by the outstanding Nathan Walters allowed play to be spread wide where full back Roger Davies found enough space to squeeze over for an unconverted try.

Hopkins missed a penalty for the students before the Otters drew level when Richard Rees again showed his predatory instinct with a try from broken play, but James was unable to convert.

UWIC made an excellent start to the second half as Hopkins landed a first-minute penalty, followed by a try by centre Philip Dolman in the right corner - but Narberth bounced back with a try by centre Andrew Bowen after a good lineout take and a thrust at the home defence by No 8 Gareth Bennett. James added the simple conversion to haul the Otters within a point of the opposition.

But Hopkins gave the students breathing space with two further penalties and also missed a last-gasp chance of another - whilst James could only muster another three points so that Narberth went down to their second league defeat of the season.

Narberth: Sion Brace: Richard Rees; Elgan Vittle; Andrew Bowen; Nick Jones: Gareth James; Adrian Killa: Nathan Williams (Fifitapuku Faletau); Kevin Allen; Alan Phillips: Emori Katalau; Dai Ebsworth: Rob McCusker (Dafydd Bowen); Gary Denver; Gareth Bennett.