Llanelli played Swansea off the park, and there were two outstanding performances from Wales U20 stars Luca Giannini and Josh Phillips. The only consolation for the All Whites was a try bonus as they kicked-off their 150th anniversary season with a defeat to their biggest rivals.
“I thought the effort the boys put in during the first 20 minutes of the game was excellent,” said John. “It got us three tries early, and we built on that.
“We dipped a bit just before half-time but the messages we gave to the players in the changing rooms they took on board, came out, and it was a great effort from them in the second-half again.
“There’s still loads to work on and there were a lot of things we were unhappy with out there, but it is difficult to be too unhappy when you’ve scored 46 points.”
The hosts started the game strongly claiming the opening try when captain Llew Phillips-Taylor powered over from short-range off the back of a well-worked driving lineout. Llanelli held the upper hand physically and we soon celebrating their second try when No 8 Nathan Hart forced his way over the line. Impressive outside-half Josh Phillips added the extras on both occasions.
The home side were 21-0 up after a mere 20 minutes, and their third try was the pick of the bunch after a tremendous kick and chase from wing Rhys Harris. To their credit Swansea refused to throw in the towel and trailed by just seven points at the interval after tries from tight-head Richard Murphy, and Wales U20 wing Harri Houston.
Llanelli regrouped at the interval and began the second-half in the same manner they had started the first, with Harrison Button gathering a kick downfield from Phillips to secure the bonus point.
Owen Thomas hit back for the All Whites before replacement scrum-half Luke Davies ran in unopposed from 45 metres out for Llanelli. Garan Williams crossed for Swansea before centre Jack Price put the icing on the cake for the hosts with an excellent individual try.
Scorers: Llanelli: Tries: L Phillips-Taylor, N Hart, R Harris, O Thomas, L Davies, J Price; Cons: J Phillips 5; Pens: J Phillips 2. Swansea: Tries: R Murphy, H Houston, O Thomas, G Williams; Cons: D Edwards 3
Aberavon ran in seven tries as they thrashed Bridgend 45-14 at the Talbot Athletic Ground to lay down an early Premiership marker.
Jason Hyatt’s side were superior to the Ravens in every department, and it took them a mere five minutes to get on the scoresheet, when Joe Gage chipped over the top of the Bridgend defence before re-gathering to score.
Former Ospreys and Leicester Tigers centre Joe Thomas caused havoc in midfield, and it was his show and go which eventually led to fullback Jon Phillips touching down. Luke Davies was next on the scoresheet as the hooker powered over off the back of a driving lineout.
New outside half Rhys Jones converted all three tries and nailed a penalty on the stoke of half-time after Liam Tobias was sent to the sin bin for an off the ball challenge, meaning the Wizards led 24-0 at the break.
Aberavon annihilated the Ravens in the scrums with their forwards holding the upper hand, and this laid the platform for wing Steff Andrews slide over at the far right-hand corner with Jones converting.
They were also awarded a penalty try for their scrum dominance before Gage claimed his second try after gathering a kick through from Andrews. Brad Roderick crossed for their seventh try to make it 45-0 before Bridgend scored two late consolation tries courtesy of hooker Evan Yardley and wing Mike Powell.
Llandovery edged out Carmarthen Quins to claim a hard-fought 19-3 away win in a ferocious West Wales derby that saw Jack Maynard kick 14 points on his return to the visitors’ ranks.
The Drovers pack was superb with man of the match Jack Jones leading from the front with an outstanding all round performance. Maynard opened the scoring for the visitors from the kicking tee after Carmarthen were penalised at the breakdown.
The former Scarlets academy player soon doubled their lead with another three points from the kicking tee with Quins pinged for not rolling away. Steffan Marshall pulled three points back for Carmarthen after Llandovery were caught offside but that was as good as it got for the hosts as they were beaten up by a heavier Llandovery pack who also held the upper hand at the lineout and scrums.
Carmarthen failed to fire many shots as they were forced to play from deep, which resulted in them getting smothered by a claustrophobic Llandovery defence. The Drovers held a 6-3 lead at the interval, and after the break their forwards continued to dominate which allowed Maynard to kick two further penalties to make it a two-score game.
They then put the result beyond any doubt when Lloyd Pike powered his way over from short-range following a period of sustained pressure with Maynard successful in adding the extras.
