The packing technique has a lot to do with it. Was your draw nice and loose?
You will get better at that as you go along. I had frustrating moments as well at first.

Don't worry about having to relight a few times. It's not like a cigar where it tastes bad after a re-light. You can smoke half a bowl, have dinner and then come back to it. I did it last night with a bowl of Mac Baren Navy Flake that had been rubbed out like yours. Still tastes great.

Also, as Tony said, you'll find your own puffing cadence that works for you. I puff pretty often but I don't take deep puffs. I sip it. The key is to taste the tobacco.

Also, I've found that most pipes don't give the huge billows of smoke that cigars do. This is probably because I take 2-3 second draws with a cigar and sip the pipe.