Whitland grab smahing first win (From Western Telegraph)

Whitland grab smahing first win

Whitland 36 Glamorgan Wanderers 24

Whitland opened their account for the new campaign with an excellent home win that augers well for the future at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, a result that was even more pleasing for The Borderers' faithful since Glamorgan Wanderers had looked very good in winning their first two matches.

The Cardiff-based side made an equally promising start in this tussle as they took a six-point lead in as many minutes with a drop-goal by centre Nick Bellamy and a penalty from full back Jason Pocock as the experienced Hemi Taylor led his pack from the No 8 berth.

But The Borderers replied with a penalty from Daniel Griffiths which seemed to settle their nerves because they claimed three superb tries between the 17th and 25th minutes as the entire team was involved.

Gavin Morris opened the Borderers' try count after Gareth Williams and Ricky Davies had made the first foothold and scrum half Andrew Jenkins sent centre Lee Banfield away before supplying the scoring pass for Gavin Morris to make it to the corner.

It edged the Borderers in front and further tries came from Daniel Rogers, the centre dummying his way over after good drives by Ricky Davies, new hooker Jason Evans and Phil Morgan, and Fakataha Molatika, fitting reward for an all-action display where the lock was involved in all that the Borderers did, and both converted by Griffiths to put the homesters 22-6 ahead.

But the Wanderers refused to totally submit and good work up front by skipper Andrew Williams, Matthew Bolton and Peter Herring set up a sustained platform from which Pocock slotted two penalties, one either side of Borderers' hard-working lock Anthony Jakeman being 'sin-binned', and fly half Jason Larkman grabbed a soft try after Griffiths failed to hold on to a pass in his own 22 and Larkman pounced to win the touch down.

Griffiths made amends with a well-struck penalty after Bolton had been yellow-carded - and after the break added another six points with further kicks.

Molatika grabbed his second try after combining well with Gavin Morris on the right flank, galloping 30 metres after shrugging off two tackles, and at this stage a Whitland first league win of the season was on the cards.

The Borderers lost full back Wayne Lewis, very unlucky to be yellow-carded as he was held into a ruck and then punished for blocking it - and Glamorgan Wanderers fought back with a try for speedster Owain Thomas which Pocock goaled.

The visitors had other late chances for winger Ian Higgins, centre Bellamy and Pocock but the Borderers' defence was strong as Romeo Colella and Tristan Mabbutt came on and tackled stoutly alongside Derek Thomas and Tristan Bowen, who were always involved in the close exchanges - and this success will put Whitland in good heart for another long trek this Saturday, where they face a strong Cross Keys outfit who have started the season well.