Tenby United 25 pts. Waunarlwydd 78

Still striving for their first win in the league this season, a buoyant G. D. Harries sponsored Tenby United took the field against fourth-placed Waunarlwydd, with the opposition surprisingly strengthened by several Championship players who were obviously tempted to turn out on this away trip which the visitors (post game) were treating as an end of season jolly.

Despite a wonderful sunny day, the game didn’t attract a great crowd to Heywood Lane, which was probably down to a combination of the home side’s lack of success in terms of wins, Judgement Day down at Cardiff, as well as it being a Bank Holiday weekend.

However, with confidence high amongst the loyal home supporters that had turned out, Waunarlwydd kicked off and for the first 10 minutes, both sides were in attacking mode, but both defences held firm and surprisingly the first points went to the home side, via a penalty from the mighty boot of Turbo Lewis.

This early score obviously went against the grain for the visitors, as from the restart a penalty was awarded for offside by referee Mills and Waunarlwydd kicked for touch deep into the Tenby 22 and with ease won the lineout, then drove on for a try scored by number eight Nathan Hart, converted by Lee Evans, taking the score to 7-3.

Fifteen minutes in, Tenby gave away a penalty for holding on in a tackle and Waunarlwydd took a quick tap and ran in a 60-metre try scored by outside-half Jonny Lewis, which was again converted by Lee Evans, easing the score out to 14-3.

The Tenby scrum was under immense pressure throughout the game, and despite retreating at a great rate of knots, were indebted to number eight Timoci Kaumaitotoya, who valiantly picked up from the base, which saved Tenby from what looked like probable turnover ball on more than one occasion.

Twenty minutes into the game, with Waunarlwydd maintaining their dominance and momentum, centre Dan Fox score a try that started from a lineout deep in the Tenby 22, but excellent interplay between the backs released Fox for a great team try that was converted by Lee Evans, extending the score to 21-3.

Despite being on the back-foot for most of the game, the undoubted highlight of the first half for Tenby was an interception try by Turbo Lewis, who from maybe 60, or maybe 50, or maybe 40, or even 30, but in reality it was probably nearer 18 metres, galloped over for a hard-earned score, which he then went on to convert narrowing the score to 21-10.

Turbo did admit after his touchdown that he was “glad it wasn’t any further out from the try line…!”

With 15 minutes to half-time, and getting slightly more into the game, a break from Jason Ronowitz nearly resulted in another Tenby try, but possession was lost and from the turnover Waunarlwydd centre Dai Watts ended up running the full length of field to score an unconverted, but bonus point earning fourth try, stretching the score to 26-10.

The trend was repeated minutes later when another promising break by Tenby from their own 22, resulted in loss of possession from a knock-on, and from the subsequent scrum, a darting run by scrum-half Lee Diiulio broke through the stretched Tenby defence, resulting in a try by flanker Daniel Joseph, converted by Lee Evans extending the score to 33-10.

The situation got even worse for the home side as virtually on the stroke of half-time the confident Waunarlwydd backs launched an attack from their own line and with excellent interplay and backing up from the back row, worked Daniel Joseph free for his second try, which again was converted by Lee Evans, making the interval score 40-10.

Forty and at a point a minute, Tenby trooped off for their oranges.

The United kicked off the second half and, with Waunarlwydd running the ball and just getting pushed into touch on Tenby’s five-metre line, they made their intentions known that it was going to be very much the same aggressive/running style rugby in the second half as it had been for the 40 minutes of the first half. Waunarlwydd stole the lineout ball and prop Steff Jones went over for an unconverted try, extending the score to 45-10.

From the Tenby restart, and again attacking from inside their own half, the visitors backs passed the ball quickly and accurately and an inside pass on the touchline from left wing Andrew Rhys-Spowart to his supporting right wing Alan Pope resulted in a very well-worked try, converted by Lee Evans, making the score 52-10.

A now rampant visiting side were prepared to run everything from anywhere and in a disastrous five minute period for the United stretched the lead to 66-10, with first Chris Sealey running in for an easy try, which was rapidly followed by Lee Evans, acting as scrum-half, picking up the ball from a ruck and running in uncontested from halfway. Evans converted both tries.

This burst of scoring by Waunarlwydd kick-started the home side into action and from stolen lineout ball, and an initial break from captain Luke Hansford, the quickly recycled ball resulted in Tenby winger Tom Dennis going over for a well-deserved team try, narrowing the score to 66-15.

Inspired by this burst of attacking play, and mimicking the running and backing up mode the visitors had displayed all game, from their own 22, Tenby again attacked, resulting in a great try for Moritz Neumann that closed the score to 66-20.

With confidence still high, and the momentum clearly now with the home side, a pick up from the scrum and quick ball from the next breakdown, resulted in winger Tom Dennis being worked free and going over for a try bonus point gaining score. Unfortunately, the conversion attempt hit the post, but at 66-25, Tenby were now on the up.

Stung somewhat by leaking three quick tries, and wanting to end the game on a high, the visitors quickly regained their first half momentum and, despite some strong late Tenby defence, wing Andrew Rhys-Spowart went over for a try, converted by Lee Evans, who took his personal tally out to 23 points.

As if to add insult to injury, from a scrum in their own 22, centre Dan Fox ran virtually the length of the field for the final try of the game for Waunarlwydd and a 78-25 scoreline - which prompted referee Mills to call a halt to proceedings for the afternoon.

When you read about a game where a side goes in for 11 tries, and there are nine different scorers and the final score reflects the game as a point a minute defeat, you assume that it was a totally one-sided running game… but when that is countered by the opposition scoring four tries run in by three different players, it shows that they didn’t simply turn up to fulfil the fixture - they contributed, albeit spasmodically - and that the players and coaching team can take some positives into the last few games of what has been a very testing season.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Tenby United travel up to the Preselis to take on local rivals Crymych, who will be keen to come away with a home victory to ease their potential relegation fears and on Saturday, May 14, Tenby entertain Gowerton in the final league game of the season at Heywood Lane.

Still in the Pembrokeshire Cup, a trip up to Whitland has now been scheduled for the semi-final on Wednesday, May 18, with a 7.15 pm kick-off. Support would be appreciated at all the remaining games.

Tenby United would like to thank match sponsors Folly Farm and Tenby Rotary Club, ball sponsor Mr. Joe Taylor, of North Beach Café, and the Tenby United man of the match award sponsored by Heywood’s Butchers, of Saundersfoot.

Tenby fielded: Scott James, Tom Dennis, Moritz Neumann, Jack Guerreiro, Jimmy Davies (Connor Ennis, 69), Tom Lewis, Dan Thomas (Will Crockford, 55), Luke Hansford (capt), Timoci Kaumaitotoya, Jason Ronowitz (Alex Thomas, 41), Luke Dedman, Rob Weston, Ethan Morgan (Paul Bevan, 55), Wes Bonser (Joe Poole, 46), Robert Clarke.