Tenby United 21 pts.
Cefneithin 5
Building on their superb victory over local rivals Milford Haven, Coastal Cottages sponsored Tenby United kept promotion hopes very much alive with a battling victory over fellow contenders Cefneithin.
The United knew that their excellent performance at the Observatory would count for nothing if they couldn't back it up at Heywood Lane on Saturday. But back it up they did, with a gritty display against a tenacious Cefneithin outfit that comfortably saw off the Seasiders in the reverse fixture in October.
The visitors started well and forced the first scoring opportunity after the home side was penalised for offside in midfield. A relatively simple shot at goal was hooked well left by fullback Chris Moore and the visitors' lack of a recognised goal kicker was to prove an important difference between the sides.
The early stages saw both sides testing the other out with the obligatory bout of aerial ping-pong, but there were encouraging signs in early set-scrums where the Tenby tight five appeared to have the advantage.
The United's first telling attacking move almost yielded a score. Off-the-top lineout ball allowed number eight Sam Smith and centre Gavin Brace to combine well, setting winger Josh Ratu off on a telling run down the left. Quick ball allowed stand-off Tom Lewis to launch a testing cross kick, which right winger Dan Colley just failed to gather.
Referee John Griffiths had already spotted the Green and Golds offside in midfield and presented Lewis with a shot at goal from 30 metres. The number 10 made no mistake to draw first blood.
The Lewis-Colley partnership almost worked again minutes later when a sliced kick from the outside-half was gathered by the young winger, who made good ground to the visitors' 22. The ensuing scrum went the way of the home side and when the Cefneithin eight dropped it under great pressure from the Seasiders, Lewis made light work of doubling the advantage with 16 minutes gone.
The United carved another try-scoring opportunity, with Lewis once again the catalyst. A great flat ball found centre Pat Dravywa, who set the pacy Colley free on the right. His chip ahead was well measured, but the Cefneithin cover was just good enough to chase back and concede the five-metre attacking scrum.
For once, the home eight was put under some pressure at scrum time, but to their relief they were awarded a penalty after the Cefneithin pack was judged guilty of wheeling. The usually reliable radar of Lewis did not function on this occasion, though, and the lead stayed at six points.
Cefneithin were almost guilty of gifting the home side a simple score after good pressure in their 22 allowed Josh Ratu to charge down a clearance kick, but fortunately for the Camarthenshire outfit, the ball ran dead.
Having apparently been in control for much of the first period, the Seasiders were dealt a blow when tight-head Lee Tucker was shown yellow for coming in at the side of a ruck, the referee having considered this to be the latest in a number of Tenby infringements. Fullback Moore opted for another shot at goal, but once again he came nowhere near threatening the uprights.
The home side worked hard to ensure that the visitors did not benefit from their man advantage, but were not aided by the fact that the lineout was not functioning well.
And they were soon made to pay as Cefneithin registered the first try of the afternoon with less than 10 minutes to go until the interval. Fullback Moore atoned for his poor afternoon with the boot by brushing off some fairly ineffective Tenby tackling to cross. The score went unconverted.
The Seasiders nearly conceded again on the stroke of half-time after a loose ball was hacked through, but scrum-half Richard Rossiter did well to get back and cover.
The second half began in frantic fashion, with both sides looking for the early initiative, lock forward Jonny Lane working hard and showing up well in loose play. But once again, indiscipline cost the United dearly when Scott Payne became the second prop of the afternoon to see yellow.
The United looked to inject fresh legs in the front row, with Nicky Guymer taking over from the hard working Terry John.
Despite being down to 14, the United upped the pressure on the visitors and were rewarded with another penalty after the Green and Golds were guilty of going over the top at a ruck. Lewis made no mistake from 30 metres to extend the home side's buffer to four points.
With their full complement back on the field, the United looked to seal victory and a scrum against the head in Cefneithin territory set up a chance. Number eight Sam Smith picked from the base and embarked on a trademark charge, earning a penalty after the visitors were found to be lying on the wrong side.
The United opted for a series of scrums, but could not break down a dogged visiting defence and they did well to keep their line intact. As the last quarter of the game arrived, the United coaching team sent on Luke Dedman in place of Gareth Nock.
With more than an hour gone and the game still very much in the balance, the Seasiders put together their best move of the game to finally breach the Cefneithin defence. Quick ruck ball in midfield freed Tom Lewis, whose huge pass put Pat Dravywa into space. Number eight Smith was in good support and, although Colley ran a good line on the outside, there was no chance of a pass being forthcoming as the burly back rower plunged over the line taking two would-be tacklers with him.
Lewis converted magnificently from the touchline to finally put daylight between the teams.
The United played sensible percentage rugby from that point onwards, ensuring that the visitors had to build any attacks they had from deep in their own territory.
It was left to the United to have the final say and cap a solid all-round performance. After losing a lineout ball just outside the Cefneithin 22, lock forward Gareth Edwards burst through to claim possession and drive for the line. After some good tight work by the home eight, Nicky Guymer fed skipper Harry Bolton, who plunged over for a deserved score in the corner.
This was a well-deserved victory for the United and one that keeps hopes of promotion alive. Their next home league fixture is likely to be the rearranged clash with local rivals Pembroke on Friday, March 19.
The match sponsor was Ryan Ennis and the match ball was sponsored by Wyn Griffiths.
Tenby fielded: Dai Meyrick, Nemani Ratu, Gavin Brace, Pat Dravywa, Dan Colley, Tom Lewis, Richard Rossiter, Scott Payne, Terry John, Lee Tucker, Jonny Lane, Gareth Edwards, Gareth Nock, Harry Bolton (capt.), Sam Smith. Replacements - Luke Dedman, Simon Stanford, Sam Foster, Nicky Guymer, Robbie Clarke, Arthur M-M.