CARMARTHEN QUINS 14 pts. WHITLAND 10

Whitland began the new season with an away match against local rivals Carmarthen Quins. The opening exchanges saw a lot of errors and play seemed to go backwards and forwards without any real penetration from either side. The match was 15 minutes old before the home side's Mark Jones converted a penalty awarded for a man being tackled off the ball. Ten minutes later, Emyr Williams levelled the scores for the Borderers, but now the Quins were beginning to exert some control. Mark Jones kicked long, Arwel Davies took the ball cleanly from the lineout and the pack rumbled over the line, allowing Alan Mason to score the first try of the season. Mark Jones missed the conversion, but was successful with another penalty some minutes later, to see Carmarthen go into half-time with an 11 points to three lead. Soon after the break, Jones put his team further ahead with another penalty, but then the visitors quickly fought back. They were awarded a penalty but, realising the lineouts were being overwhelmingly dominated by their opposition, opted for a scrum. The ball was heeled quickly, Gary Evans dummied the pass and was clean through the defence without a hand being laid on him. Emyr Williams added the extra points. It was all Whitland in the last quarter an they took advantage of poor kicking out of hand to run the ball back at the Quins. A scrambling defence and some Whitland errors at crucial moments prevented any further scores and it was a relieved Carmarthen team who managed to hold on to a 14-10 scoreline.