Crymych and Newcastle Emlyn roared into the new season with away wins over Carmarthen Athletic and Gorseinon respectively in Division One West but Cardigan couldn’t complete a local hat-trick of triumphs as they were thrashed at Aberystwyth in Division Two West.

It was a tough ask for Crymych at Athletic Park but the Preselimen were up for the challenge and the 22-15 win they pulled off was no more than their efforts deserved.

The Preselimen bolted into a 14 point lead through ties by outside half Sam Phillips and back-rower Tom Powell, both converted by scrum-half Rhys Davies.

Jack Wilson kept the homesters in contention with a penalty but visiting fullback Ben Turner scythed through for a third Crymych try and at the interval they led 19-9.

Wilson landed two further penalties after the break and although the Athletic applied pressure a further penalty by Davies put the north Pembrokeshire men two scores clear and they held on for a memorable win.

The smiles on the faces of the Newcastle Emlyn players and coaching staff said it all after the Teifisiders got their season off to a great start with a 25-21 win at Gorseinon.

In a pulsating contest, the result of which could have gone either way, the visitors just about deserved the verdict and are sure to take encouragement from an away win on the opening day.

At one stage Emlyn trailed by ten points before surging into a 22-point lead and although Gorseinon threatened to pull the game out of the fire the Red and Whites put up the shutters in a tremendous defensive display to hold out for victory.

During the opening 40 minutes wingers Sam Evans and Mathew Stoneham got tries for Gorseinon, one of the scores converted by the former while fullback Sean Leonard ran in for an Emlyn try converted by outside half Rhydian Harries who also landed a penalty.

After the break winger Daniel Davies landed a long range penalty for Emlyn and tries came via centre Alun Howells and No. 8 Brynmor Jones whose touchdown was converted by Harries.

Gorseinon rallied with tries by lock Nick Southgate and hooker Josh John and Evans landed his second penalty but the visitors held on.

Shock waves reverberated in the Cardigan area when news filtered through from Plascrug where the Cardis were humiliated in an embarrassing 78-12 defeat at the hands of Aberystwyth.

Newly-appointed Director of Rugby John Addis could be excused for wondering just what he’d taken on as his charges were taken to the cleaners and could have lost by an even bigger margin in one of the most one-sided contests seen at the north Ceredigion ground for many a long day.

Cardigan will be hoping to bounce back with a win over Llanybydder at King George V Playing Field this Saturday but after such a shambolic showing against their county rivals there is sure to be a great deal of trepidation among followers.

In the Aber romp winger Adrian Carvell and No. 8 Sam Binks notched try hat-tricks and Steff Rees crossed for two. Outside half Jason Rees converted nine of the eleven scores.

Back-rower Llyr Griffiths and winger Rhydian Jenkins notched tries for the visitors and Llyr Tobias landed a conversion.