Tenby United 2nds 43 pts. Pembroke 2nds 20
A much-depleted Tenby United Seconds team took to the field on a murky afternoon, with many players having (but willing) to play out of position just to field 15 men.
These positional changes included switching Russ Milns from the second row to the wing, prop Geoff Martin joining fellow prop Damion Hanlon in the centre and utility player Faddy starting at scrum- half.
Tenby kicked off to an eager looking Pembroke side and it was the visitors who took the early initiative and put pressure on the home team, relieved only after Pembroke infringed at a ruck, allowing the Seasiders to clear the danger.
Tenby took clean lineout ball, allowing Faddy to sell not only the Pembroke team, but also his own players, an outrageous dummy, with the ball seeming to almost refuse to leave the nippy scrum- half's hands. He finally released the ball to his eager looking backline who ran the ball up to the Pembroke 22.
Tenby continued to attack the visitors, with Lee Tucker and Geoff Martin punching holes through the middle of the Pembroke defence. This period saw Tenby pick and go many times from rucks, with Tucker, Geoff Martin and Olly Dugmore to the fore During this early period of the game, scrum-half Faddy was injured, which meant that he had to be replaced by Richard Rossiter after only seven minutes of play. Rossiter made an instant impact on the game, with some fierce tackling and excellent work at the rucks.
Tenby started to take some control of the game and after winning clean lineout ball through Peter James, their backs attacked downfield, only to knock-on in the visitors' 22.
From the scrum, Pembroke fed the ball to outside- half Lee Roberts, who ran the ball from his own 22 to the Tenby line to score a magnificent unconverted try in the corner.
The restart saw Tom James soar above the waiting Pembroke pack to claim his side's own kick-off. Mark Brace linked well with James, before quick ball released Lee Tucker to nip through to score under the posts to level the scores.
Pembroke took the advantage after the restart and attacked deep into Tenby territory, where only an excellent last-gasp tackle by fullback Mark Wooles prevented a try for the visitors under the posts.
From the following scrum, Pembroke spread the ball wide to their winger, who ran what must have seemed a long distance around the covering Russ Milns to score in the corner.
Tenby were not to be outdone and from a 22-metre drop-out by Pembroke, excellent work by Chris Harries, Mark Brace and Lee Tucker allowed centre Damion Hanlon to charge through to touch down under the posts. Delwyn Brace converted to put the home team in the lead 12-10.
At the restart, Tenby worked the ball back into the Pembroke half and managed to steal the visitors' lineout ball, before releasing their backs to take play to within five metres of the line after some fine runs by Mark Wooles and Harry Harries. Mark Brace then took the ball at pace from the ruck and barged his way over the line to score. The conversion hit the post and again the extra points went begging.
Pembroke hit back right from the restart and scored yet again in the corner after some fine driving play from their big pack. The try went unconverted, but Tenby's lead had been cut to 17-15.
The game had become a real nip and tuck affair, with both sides competing hard for the upper hand. Play moved from end to end repeatedly, and it was Tenby who eventually managed another score. After a quick tap penalty by Richard Rossiter, the ball was fed to Chris Harries, who was driven over the line by his pack. Brace converted to take the score to 24-10 going into half-time.
Within minutes of the restart, Tenby's backs displayed some excellent attacking rugby and some slick handling to force their way into the Pembroke 22, with Aled Williams, on for Russ Milns, making an instant impact with some neat footwork. Dean 'The Arrow' Richards, enjoying a fine game at hooker, continued to find his men at the lineout with increasing accuracy, allowing the ball to be fed quickly along the backline for Mark Wooles to cross for a try out wide. The touchline conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Tenby lost the services of the hard-working Chris Harries through injury and this reduced them to 14 men as all available subs had been used.
The Pembroke pack was becoming increasingly frustrated and after some aggressive rucking by the home pack, Tenby were awarded a penalty. From the resulting lineout, the ball was fed out to the backs, before Pembroke infringed again in midfield. Tenby elected to run the penalty and hard-working prop Ian Wordley was driven over from 20 metres to score. Brace successfully added the extras to increase the lead to 36-15 going into the final quarter.
Despite many of the players now starting to tire, the game continued to go from end to end. Pembroke were awarded a penalty on the Seasiders' 22 and decided to use their big pack to run the ball. Tenby again infringed at a ruck and this time Pembroke spread the ball wide for their winger to cross in the corner for an unconverted try.
Tenby were not to be outdone and from the restart they worked the ball towards the visitors' line, where from a five-metre scrum, Rossiter fed Damion Hanlon, who came onto the ball at pace, crashing over the line to score his second try of the afternoon.
Brace was again successful with the additional points to make the final score 43 points to 20 in Tenby's favour.
This weekend, the Seconds continue their league campaign away to Narberth in what promises to be a hard encounter with their old rivals.
Players are reminded that training is vital to the team's success and all are urged to attend on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7 pm.
Tenby fielded: Mark Wooles, Russell Milns (Aled Williams), Damion Hanlon, Geoff Martin, Harry Harries, Delwyn Brace (capt.), Chris 'Faddy' Thomas (Richard Rossiter), Ian Wordley, Dean 'The Arrow' Richards, Mark Brace, Tom James, Chris Harries, Lee Tucker, Peter James, Olly Dugmore.