WHITLAND 13 pts

GLAMORGAN WANDERERS 19

Newly-promoted Whitland got a taste of what to expect in the upper echelons of the National League on Saturday as they opened their division one campaign with a home defeat.

The Wanderers were just too strong up front and too well marshalled behind at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, notching up a 19-13 victory, although the Borderers ran them close right up until the final whistle.

It was indiscipline that ultimately proved costly for the Green and Whites, with impressive Wanderers fullback Jason Pocock landing four penalties among his personal tally of 14 to help the East Walians to their winning margin.

Whitland made the better start before their home crowd, with outside-half Daniel Griffiths landing a drop goal two minutes in, but the accurate boot of Pocock put the Cardiff-based side back on terms just two minutes later when he goaled a penalty from 35 metres out.

A second place kick from Pocock approaching the 20-minute mark gave the visitors a three-point lead, which was how the scoreline remained at the break.

Griffiths and Pocock exchanged penalties after the change around and things still looked finely balanced, with Romeo Collella, Fakatah Molatika and Mike Buckingham all going close for the Green and Whites towards the end of the second third.

However, the experienced Wanderers pack started to gain the ascendancy up front allowing half-back pairing of Garran Treharne and Griff Rees to dictate the options.

This resulted in a looping threequarter move involving Pocock and centres Nick Bellamy and Richard Calcatera which was rewarded with the game's first touchdown when Pocock's final touch sent wing Owen Thomas through under the posts.

Pocock added the extras and then slotted over another penalty for good measure to put the Wanderers 13 points ahead.

Whitland, true to their mettle, refused to give up and continually sniped at the visitors, finally breaching the Wanderers' line in the 76th minute when Craig Richards sent a deft chip into space and Eifion Lewis won the race to the touchdown.

Replacement fly-half Simon Rogers landed the conversion to reduce the arrears to six points, but it proved to be the game's last hurrah, with the visitors throwing up the shutters to play out the dying minutes.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Whitland travel to near neighbours Carmarthen Quins.