ANY trepidation on the part of Newcastle Emlyn followers before the promoted Red and Whites had their first taste of Swalec Championship rugby was blown away during a stunning 62-27 win over Llanharan in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Both rivals were understrength because of injuries and unavailability of players but despite picking up maximum points and gaining a boost to confidence there is sure to be concern in the Emlyn camp over rather shoddy defending and this is likely to be addressed during training this week.

The Teifisiders have been dealt a massive blow with the loss of outstanding openside flanker Owain Powell who has been injured for some weeks. He is due to have a knee scan and it is not yet known whether he will figure this season.

Emlyn led 33-15 at the break, the first try coming via hooker and skipper Alex Williams who had a blinder from start to finish.

Scrum-half Mike Jones went in for a try hat-trick and the other scorers were fullback Daniel Davies (2), centre Aled Jenkins, outside half Giovani Cipriani and right-winger Llyr Jones. The remainder of the points came from the boot of Cipriani.

On the downbeat Emlyn prop Dai Jones was given his marching orders during the second period for an illegal challenge during a scrum.

Centre Sam Edwards, winger Olly Smyth, right-winger Mogs Williams (2) and flanker Tom Wilson got tries for Llanharan and Williams converted one of the scores.

The next game for Emlyn is at Ddol Wyber this Saturday against Glynneath who lost 22-21 at home against Tata Steel on the opening day.

The general consensus was that Crymych could face a stern test at Loughor on the opening day in League One West and so it proved as the Preselimen went down 29-24.

But despite defeat the north Pembrokeshire villagers showed enough to suggest they could make quite an impact in the months ahead.

The Swansea side led 14-12 after the opening 40 minutes and 29-17 going into the final quarter but the visitors stuck to their task as they came back to within five points and could count themselves rather unfortunate not to overhaul the hosts. Crymych picked up two bonus points

Lock Ryan Bean went in for the first Crymych try converted by outside half Sam Phillips and left-winger Tomos Jones doubled the visitors’ try before the break with Phillips again adding the extras.

The remainder of the Crymych points came from tries by flanker and skipper Tom Powell and centre Carwyn Phillips, one of the scores converted by fly-half Phillips.

Morgan Bryant, Peter Smiliglia, Jamie George and Tom Davies got tries for Loughor with Kieran Thomas landing three conversions and a penalty.

This weekend the Preselimen host Whitland who lost 28-24 at home against Waunarlwydd on Saturday.

Optimism was high at King George V Playing Field in Cardigan before the visit of Milford Haven in Division 3 West A but the relegated Cardis hardly instilled confidence for the challenge ahead as they slumped to a 21-18 defeat.

The visitors led 5-3 at the break through a try by Rhys Baker while the Cardigan points came from a penalty by outside half Llyr Tobias.

It was nip and tuck after the break when the homesters were left to rue a failure to convert ties by fullback Alun Jenkins, lock Trystan Lewis and centre Iestyn Crompton.

In stark contrast Milford outside half Joseph Kiff converted a try by centre Dan Jenkins and landed three penalties.

Cardigan will be hoping to open their account on Saturday when visiting Pembroke who went down 34-8 at Haverfordwest in their opening encounter.