Indeed, the All Blacks played up the slope and into the slight breeze in the first period at the Athletic Ground and were just about good value for that narrowest of leads.

They went ahead in the opening stages as Johnnie Lloyd made a break from No 10 and the move was continued on the left touchline via Adam Collins and Delme Bateman before full back Patrick Bellerby lopped around to claim an unconverted try.

Neyland made it 8-0 with a well-judged penalty from Mark Riley before the Scarlets reduced the deficit to a single point when flanker Steve Dyde received the scoring pass from scrum half Elliott Lewis and full back Rhys Johns added the extra points.

Powerhouse centre Adam Collins put in some tremendous runs for the All Blacks and almost scored from a Bellerby chip ahead but a wicked bounce eluded them both. Riley added a second penalty from a couple of attempts for Neyland landed a three-pointer for the Scarlets to keep the game evenly poised at half time – and although both sides had half chances in an absorbing second half it was Smith who sealed matters in front of a large crowd clearly enjoying more local derbies in this new division.

*There was a minute’s silence before the match in memory of Alan Morgans, a great Neyland stalwart, and former Scarlet and county legend John Shanklin – and next Saturday, when Neyland entertain Llangwm, it is hoped that as many former players as possible will attend the game.
 
Neyland: Patrick Bellerby: Josh Morgan; Adam Collins; Mark Riley; Delme Bateman: Johnny Lloyd; Adam Cawley: Gareth Bevan; Alex Swales; Richard Jones: Mark James; Craig Grice: Sam Kataki; Gareth Lawlor; Chris Busby (Capt). Replacements: Steve Hamer; Darren John; Richard Banner; Owen Walters.

Pembroke: Rhys Johns: Barrie John; Gianluca Tremarco; Mark Williams; James Skeels: James Davies; Elliott Lewis: Sean Willington; Max Hayward (Capt); Matthew Pritchard: Laurens Britz; Will Edwards: Steve Dyde; Alex Wilkes; Sam Smith. Replacements: Richard Mason; Neil Brace; Dalton Howson.

Referee: Richard Thomas

Narberth came close to a deserved win at Newbridge but conceded a late seven points to the former top-class club and then Nick Gale was off target with a long-range penalty that would have given the Otters victory!

Yet there was little to suggest there would be points plenty after the interval as Newbridge edged an error-ridden first half by 6-3 as kicker Spencer Crawley landed two penalties to one by Otter fly half Ianto Griffiths.

The Otters took the lead for the first time with a try by prop Ollie Evans which Griffiths converted, as he did when Nick Gale raced in from long range.

Crawley and Griffiths also added further penalties as fortunes ebbed and flowed, with winger Tom Driver adding a converted try for Newbrige alongside a late converted score by skipper and centre Duane Dyer that left the teams all-square.

There was still time left for that late penalty attempt by Gale but to the disappointment of the Narberth faithful it fell just short – and the Newbridge players and supporters heaved a collective sigh of relief!

Nick Gale - try for Narberth

 

Leading the way in terms of points was young Jonathan Rogers, who went through the full scoring card with a try, three conversions, two penalties and dropped goal for a personal haul of 20 points.

But this was very much a team performance where winger Mark Heywood sped over for two tries alongside others by back rower Andrew Cook and Pat Roberts.

The Athletic had a try from skipper Steve Morse alongside a conversion, three penalties and a dropped goal by Jac Wilson – but they had to give way to a Seasiders’ side which really looked a good team on the evidence of this performance!

Toby Smith and Mark Heywood who both played an important part in Tenby's impressive victory over Carmarthen Athletic. Pic: Susan McKehon.

 

Whitland suffered the disappointment of a second successive defeat as they lost at home to a Kidwelly side which had lost its first home game, at home to Llangennech.

The Borderers made a slow start as they found themselves ten points adrift in the opening quarter as winger Jonathan Evans had sped through for a try and Peter Smiriglia added the conversion, followed by two well-struck penalties.

These set-backs stung the Borderers into raising the tempo and a well-struck penalty from Jonathan Davies was followed by a very good try from winger Will Davies which Thomas goaled.

Thomas also opened up the home side’s account in the second half with another penalty but Kidwelly responded with two more Smiriglia penalties alongside a try by No 8 Richard Hughes to open up an 11-point gap and although Whitland had the final word with a try from scrum half which Thomas converted to earn them a bonus point, it wasn’t quite what the Borderers’ faithful were hoping for.

 

Crymych sit proudly atop the section table alongside Newcastle Emlyn and Loughor after this second successive victory in this tough new section.

The Preseli Men were only 10-7 ahead at the break but got well on topthereafter to secure a bonus point as reward for what was a terrific team effort. Joe Powell eased them ahead with a good try that was converted by scrum half Rhys Davies, who also added a penalty before Gorseinon scored a try by winger Matthew Stoneham which Andrew Steel converted.
 
Steele also kicked a second-half penalty and converted a try by left winger Callum Richards but it was never going to be enough to rattle the home side as they grabbed further tries from Rhys ‘Beaky’ Davies, full back Tom Turner and second row Gruff Howells, all converted by scrum half Davies to complete a good day from Crymych supporters.

Gruff Howells - try for Crymych in a big win

 

Haverfordwest travelled to Gowerton with something of a makeshift side and paid the inevitable price as they conceded were already 35-3 adrift at half time and only late consolation tries from Dan Miners and Luke Harvard put at least a sheen of respectability on the final scoreline.

All the Blues could muster in that one-sided first period was a penalty scrum half Richard James but Gowerton, who had lost at home to Tycroes in their first match, ran in tries at regular intervals from No 8 Roy Thomas, centre Gareth John (2), skipper Tom Gronow (2), outside half Gareth King (2), full back Lee Hedges and Josh Hamer, who also landed seven conversions to help his side to such a big win, leaving Haverfordwest seeking the return of injured or unavailable players as soon as possible!
 

Cardigan lost their second match of the season but there were some positives for their coaches as the Teifisiders competed strongly throughout, scored three good tries and generally reduced the huge numbers of basic errors from the previous week.

They trailed by 22-6 at half time as Llyr Tobias slotted two penalties and Llanybydder enjoyed tries from Elia Pelegrotti, Llyr Jones and Dyfrig Dafis, two converted by Llyr Davies, who also landed a penalty.

Llanybydder also added tries after the interval from Adrian davies and Arwyn Evans, one converted by Davies.
But Cardigan outscored them with excellent tries from Alun Jenkins, Aaron Tomkinson and Dafydd Watkins, one converted by Tobias – and if they can maintain this sort of improvement the Cardis will soon be back on the winning trail!
 

 

Llangwm picked up their first win of the season as they proved too strong and street-wise for a gritty St Davids team which never gave up trying but lacked a quality controller like the Wasps had in John Whitticombe.

Whitticombe called upon previous service with Narberth and Haverfordwest to call the shots from the fly half berth, scored a try and landed six conversions, as well as knowing when to call his young backs into action and when to push his pack ahead.

Yet it was St Davids who took an early lead with a penalty by full back Craig Challonder before tries from scrum half Ollie Davies, who also caught the eye at No 9, and front row man Aled Morgan (2), all converted by Whitticombe.

The Wasps added further tries by full back Jonathan Brock, prop Roy Venables, winger Rhys Norman and Whitticombe, three of them goaled by their No 10.

It was to the Saints’ credit that they never gave up trying, even when reduced to 14 men – and scored an excellent try by scrum half Lewis James and another by Rhys Morgan in the closing moments of an entertaining tussle. They might even have had another score but for a try-saving tackle by Wasps No 9 Ollie Davies in the bottom left corner.

Llangwm: Jonathan Brock: Dan Morgan; Josh Davies; Will Beresford; Rhys Morgan: John Whitticombe; Ollie Davies: Roy Venables; Aled Morgan; Dan Hughes: Matthew John; Deion Lloyd-Hughes; James Lewis (Capt); Dafydd Bevan; Ian Griffiths. Replacements: James Griffiths; Ben Charles; James Gardner; Dai Owen; Ben Llewellyn.

St Davids: Craig Challonder: Norman Price; Jack Jones; Rhys Morgan; Ollie Davies: John Miles; Lewis James: Rhys L Price (Capt); Rhys Price; Dan Murphy: Raymond Owen; Gethin Bateman (Capt): Carl Evans; Scott Richards; Dafydd Williams. Replacements: Neil Thomas; Aled Phillips; Rhys Evans.

Roy Venables scores a try for Llangwm

Milford Haven showed their true capability as they built a deserved 23-3 lead by half time but the Mariners made unforced errors after the break which allowed the Carmarthenshire Saints to come back into the game – but not enough to rob Milford of a deserved first win.

James Thomas scored the first try from his centre berth and others came from co-centre Dean Matthews and Gareth Fawcett, back in rugby during a football suspension.

Lee Riley notched a conversion and two penalties as Dom Todaro again caught the eye with his work-rate alongside prop Andrew Rees, lock Tom Manning and Thomas as the Saints could only muster a penalty from Chris Smart.

The Saints used the experience of coach Andrew Deacon as a second-half replacement and the veteran No 8 grabbed a try from a quickly-taken penalty which Smart converted to go with a second penalty – but the Mariners kept their heads, and the verdict, as a result!

James Thomas -second try in as many weeks for Milford Haven

Pembroke Dock Harlequins suffered their second mauling of the season as they conceded no fewer than 12 tries to a rampant Fishguard and Goodwick side which was already 29-5 ahead at half time and added a further 53 points after the interval.

That means the Quins have conceded 140 points from their two opening fixtures yet they took the lead with a cracking second-minute try by left winger Sam Richards after good work by Andrew Price.

They did manage a consolation try towards the end from prop Dan Moseley but otherwise it was all Fishguard as they started with a penalty try and added others by James Griffiths (2), winger Matthew George and hooker Owain Morgans, Griffiths adding two conversions.

In a one-sided second half George grabbed a second score to make it five tries in two matches, with others from centre Gareth Adamson, full back Ed Bendall, winger Sam Kurtz, replacement prop Mel McVeigh, flanker Gavin Walsh and flanker Chris Sousha, with Griffiths notching another five conversions to go with two penalties.

Matthew George - two tries for Fishguard mean five so far in two games!