CARDIGAN 27 pts

TENBY UNITED 12

Just as Coastal Cottages sponsored Tenby prepared perfectly for Amman the previous Saturday, so did Cardigan prepare for Tenby's visit. Mark Heywood summed it up at the end of the match: "They wanted it more than we did."

A large crowd welcomed both teams in sunny, but very blustery conditions.

Cardigan won the toss and played with the wind in the first half.

Toby Smith's growing maturity is evident as he constantly tried to release the potent force of Mark Heywood in the early exchanges.

Mark gives the side penetration and allows others to feed off him.

Several intricate threequarter moves by Cardigan frequently ended with handling errors.

On one occasion, however, their left wing, Kieran Hurley, was put clear and Dan Colley's excellent tackle prevented a try.

Most of the penalties in the first half went Tenby's way and eventually referee Jonathan Hardy sin-binned the influential Cardigan number six, Colin Davies, for not releasing after a tackle.

He was shortly followed by Tenby's Dai Meyrick, yellow-carded for an obstruction that probably prevented a try.

The Cardigan fullback, Mike Diggle, kicked the penalty.

Tenby would have been content with a 3-0 interval score, hoping to capitalise on a very strong wind in the second half.

Cardigan changed their game plan in the second period, though, keeping the ball amongst their forwards.

They put intense pressure on the Tenby line and scored two early tries.

The first by number eight, Llyr Griffiths, came from a maul which followed a scrummage.

It was followed quickly by an opportunist try from flanker Colin Davies, as he took a free-kick quickly and charged over the line.

Both tries were unconverted and made the score 13-0 in favour of Cardigan.

The United responded well with good runs from Jack Guerreiro, Colley and Heywood.

Following a high tackle on Smith, Cardigan's Marcus Heighton was yellow-carded.

Tenby's Jimmy Davies prevented a certain try with an excellent tackle and Toby's tackle count at this stage was immense.

Tenby were unlucky to concede a third try when the ball bounced well over the head of Davies and into the hands of Cardigan's Wayne Parsons, who scored under the posts.

Diggle added the conversion, making the score 20-0.

Tenby's response was excellent. Toby's kicking kept Cardigan inside their 22 metre area.

Following a great break by Del Brace, who was supported by Richard Rositter, from the resultant ruck the ball moved quickly via Dai Meyrick and Heywood to Guerreiro, who scored. Jimmy Davies added the conversion to make the score 20-7 to Cardigan.

At this stage, it was all Tenby and Jason Ronowitz made a typical 40-metre run well into the Cardigan half. From the ensuing maul there were good runs from Del Brace and Mark Heywood, before Meyrick 'ghosted' over for an excellent try. Jimmy's conversion from the touchline narrowly missed.

This was a crucial point of the match and Tenby had reduced the deficit to eight points.

Support for Tenby increased when the 2nd XV players arrived jubilant from their 31-20 victory over Cardigan 2nds.

Unfortunately, Tenby could not press on for victory as the Cardigan forwards kept the pressure on their opponents' try line with continuous driving mauls.

Eventually, Colin Davies scored again, thereby securing a bonus point victory for Cardigan.

Diggle's conversion made the final score 27-12 in Cardigan's favour.

The defeat gave a symmetry to the season - with Tenby starting and ending with defeats, with 20 straight victories sandwiched in between to ensure promotion as worthy champions.

Tenby team: Dan Colley, Jimmy Davies, Mark Heywood, Jack Guerreiro, Dai Meyrick, Toby Smith, Will Crockford, Robbie Clark, Nicky Guymer (capt), Lewis Davies, Luke Dedman, Wyndham Williams, Gareth Nock, Ilaisa Torau, Jason Ronowitz. Replacements (who all played) - Johnny Lane, Richard Rossiter, Delwyn Brace, Iliaitia Kaumaitototya.