Williams stars in Blacks win (From Western Telegraph)

Williams stars in Blacks win

Neyland 24 Pembroke 3

Neyland powerhouse Matthew Williams shone at the Athletic ground on Saturday as his team overcame a spirited challenge by near rivals Pembroke.

From the first whistle to the last he was involved in almost every Neyland attack and displayed a range of skills more akin to a scrum half rather than a No8. From deftly struck chip kicks to audacious dummies and swift sleight of hand passes, he was the catalyst that allowed other prominent players such as Mark Riley and Colin Picton to show their class as well. The scoreline does little justice to Pembroke who challenged the All-Blacks throughout the game and would have pushed the home side closer if they were more penetrating behind the scrum.

Indeed, the Scarlets had the upper hand in the set pieces, especially the scrums and would have hoped to utilise the possession they had far more than what they did.

Playing down the slope in the first half, Pembroke started the brighter of the two teams as they pushed Neyland all the way.

However, it was the homeside which had the first opportunity to score but Nicky Greggain missed with a relatively easy penalty.

Neyland came back into the game and were a joy to watch at times as they moved the ball swiftly along the backs and showed good interplay between the forwards with Williams standing out.

Right wing Steve Evans almost crashed over for the first try but was bundled into touch but Neyland were quickly five points to the good after full-back Greg Miller crashed over following a line out with Evans providing the scoring pass.

From the kick off Pembroke No 8 Sandy Allen had a barnstorming run down the left wing and had the vision to slip the ball inside.

It looked as though Pembroke would draw level but Nicky James knocked on with the try line begging.

Unfortunately for the visitors it proved to be a timely miss as soon after the whistle was blown for half time.

Phil Williams reduced the deficit for the visitors with a well struck penalty from well over 30 yards but it proved to be the only points from them as Neyland took the game by the scruff of the neck and dominated from there on in.

The ubiquitous Williams increased Neyland's lead as Picton took the ball forward from a lineout and slipped a pass to the flying forward who crashed over unopposed for a good score with Greggain adding the extras.

Soon after Picton grabbed a try of his own as he was the benefactor of good interplay by his team with Greggain converting to leave the score 17-3 in Neyland's favour.

With their tails up Neyland appeared to attack at will. Ted Tamilia showed his strength with a couple of ferocious hand offs while his partner in the centre, Lee Perkins also stood out.

Mark Riley grabbed the last try as he some how broke free from a scrum and raced unopposed under the posts and to celebrate such a dramatic score, he spectacularly dived high to ground the ball.

Greggain converted again and the game was all but over for Pembroke. The Scarlets did come back into it late on as Allen led from the front and scrum half Vyv Davies showed a fine array of skills but apart from Andrew Edge, who was denied a try by good covering work by Miller and also a cruel and unlucky bounce of the ball, they created very few chances.

Neyland deserved the result and can now look forward to their next game against Penygroes with confidence while Pembroke will have to re-group and focus on where they went wrong if they are going to get their encouraging season back on track.