Neyland 19.

St Davids 10.

Neyland gained their expected local-derby victory over St Davids at the Athletic Ground.

However, it was not achieved without cost because the team lost scrum half Steve Hamer in the second half, when he was shown the red card, as was fiery No 8 Mathew Williams who was red-carded after the final whistle in his latest altercation with match officials.

It was a great pity because Williams had played an influential role in the All Blacks’ performance and the match was won when he departed.

The game also started badly for Neyland. They lost talented young centre Paul Murray after only a minute with ankle damage, his place taken by Delme Bateman. But they took the lead with a cracking crash-ball try from centre Adam Collins as he powered over the line for Mark Riley to convert.

A quickly-taken lineout helped set up another attacking platform for Neyland from which play was spread wide both ways before Mathew Williams appeared to claim an unconverted try.

St Davids responded with a penalty by skipper Phil Lamb to restrict the All Blacks to a 12-3 interval lead.

Neyland opened the second half scoring when a quickly-taken tapped penalty allowed Darren John to speed over in the corner. Riley did well to convert from wide out.

The St Davids back row of Anthony Davies, Jake and Grant Pratt was always busy and their endeavours helped set up a penalty try for the Saints, which skipper Lamb converted from in front of the posts.

But neither side was able to add further points to this absorbing clash and although Neyland were good value for victory, those two dismissals inevitably took a little of the shine off their win.

Neyland: Greg Miller, Darren John, Paul Murray, Adam Collins, Andrew Hansen, Mark Riley, Steve Hamer, Carl Britton, Craig Bennett, Robert Codd, Mark James, Chris Busby, Martin Roberts, Mark Chamberlain (Capt), Mathew Williams. Replacements: Delme Bateman, Tony Smith-Howell, Simon Phillips, Richard Smith.

St Davids: Fraser Watson, Ryan Bowen, Ian McGarty, Fintan Godkin, Barry John, Phil Lamb (Capt), Eddie Bolger, Dan Colfer, Noel Lyons, Chris Morgan, Gethin Bateman, Nick Davies, Jake Pratt, Grant Pratt, Anthony Davies. Replacements: Jack Dudley, Matthew Bennett.