McIntosh left Merthyr last season and has moved down two divisions to help Brecon, who used to be coached by another former Wales No 8 Andy Powell. He took his right-hand man at Merthyr, Gavin Dacey, with him and also imported his two sons, outside half Dion and No 8 Liam.
They both got on the scoreheeet as Liam bagged one of the four tries to secure a bonus point and Dion kicked two conversions. Sam Hellard, Richie Davies and Morgan Price bagged the other tries.
Pontypool United gave a very good account of themselves and will surely be a force to be reckoned with once again this season, having finished fourth last time out. They gave debuts to two 18-year-olds in their back line in Ollie Mayo and Luca Elliott.
With Brecon leading 17-12 with only seconds left to play, it was the visitors who were pressing for the winning score only to be thwarted by a Brecon counter attack that saw them score with the very last play to deny United at least a losing bonus point.
They may have lost their coach of the last five years, former Scarlets back row man Jack Condy, but it was business as usual for Penallta as they opened the campaign with a 38-14 win at Brynmawr.
Last season’s WRU Plate winners’ they went unbeaten in eight games in the league and were neck-and-neck with Newbridge in the end, who also boasted a 100% record. Newbridge honoured the memory of their former Welsh championship winning No 8 of the sixties, John Worwood, who died last week, by winning 29-14 at Dowlais.
The big game in Division 1 West was at Skewen, where Bonymaen were the visitors in a clash of the top two teams from last season. Skewen led 5-0 at the break, despite Anthony Buselli missing with two kicks, and their try came from centre Jordan Adderley.
Two second half tries from the visitors, once again led by record breaking captain Andrew Pritchard, meant they went away with the spoils and a 14-5 victory that laid down a marker for the rest of the season.
North Wales champions Llandudno opened up with a 41-5 home win over Dinbych, while Caernarfon matched their five points by winning 31-9 at Llangefni. The visitors were only 11-9 ahead at the break, but scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to pick up a bonus-point victory.
Tries from Ross Lucas and Jordan Rees earned Rhydyfelin a 10-5 win over Treorchy in Division 1 East Central, while there was also a big derby win for the Barry at Dinas Powys, where a penalty goal earned them an 8-7 triumph against a side who had beaten them three times last season.
Barry took the lead in the eighth minute when Luke O’Sullivan was driven over from a close range line-out. The hosts hit back on the half-hour, when Barry were down to 4 men with a man in the sin-bin, as Luc Adams rounded off a free-flowing back line movement to score a try that Phil Pariyo converted to take the lead.
But by the break the ‘Bombers’ had their noses back in front thanks to a penalty from Kyle Barros on the stroke of half-time. Barros had just missed with another kick at goal and hit the upright with another effort in the 70th minute.
There may have been no more points in the second half, but the drama lasted to the end with Pariyo getting a chance to grab the glory with a late penalty. His effort drifted wide and the visitors took the points.
“The job is to win and that’s what we wanted. Last season there wasn’t much to play for, but this season we have an opportunity to do well and climb the table,” said Barry’s head coach, Liam Scott.
“We know you’re only measured by your last game, so a winning habit is our aim. Hopefully, we can build momentum over the next few weeks
“There are a few things to work on this week, line speed in defence and overall discipline. We know we need to be better against Porth on Saturday.”
It was a single try from flanker Luke Riley at Cambrian Welfare that earned the home side a 5-0 win over Rhiwbina. It was still scoreless at the break, but Riley eventually converted a driving line-out to score the only points of the game.
The Squirrels kept pressing, and were aided by two yellow cards for the home side, but couldn’t get the score they were chasing.
In Division 1 West Central there was another close run game at Waunarlwydd, where Birchgrove ran out victors 13-12. Tristan James scored a try and Mathew Edwards kicked eight points to secure the win.
In Division 1 West, Crymych fought tooth and nail in terrible conditions to win 18-15 at Newcastle Emlyn. The visitors raced into a 15-0 lead as wing Osian Hill raced over for two smart tries.
Adam Phillips converted one of them and added a penalty before Emlyn began to fight back. Scrum half Mike Jones slotted a penalty to make it 15-3 at the break and then joined wing Dean Jones in crossing the Crymych line.
His second conversion levelled the scores before Phillips stepped up to land his second penalty to win a stirring contest against a team that went unbeaten in the league last season.
Llangennech laid down an early marker in the same division with a 10 try, 66-11 win at Pembroke that saw Aaron Howells and Jayden Whitney both cross twice.
