TENBY SWIFTS U13s 36 pts NARBERTH 17

After a minute's silence in respect of Remembrance Sunday, the game at Heywood Lane was played in glorious sunshine.

Due to illness and holidays, the Under 13s were short of players and Narberth kindly loaned three players to the Swifts.

The game started briskly and within the first 10 minutes Tenby found themselves 10-0 following tries by Narberth's quick running wings G. Salter and S. Hamson.

Ollie Morgan had to go off for the remainder of the half with a hand injury and things looked bleak for the Swifts.

A rallying talk by captain Dan Colley pulled the team together, and he led by example, scoring three match-winning tries, two of which were converted by Sam Foster, bringing the half-time score to 19-10.

The forwards Sam Webster-Smith, Stefan Paxton, Jack Lawrence, Danny Harris, man mountain Robbie Tuttle, Daniel Colley, Ieuan Rowell and James Davies were a tremendous unit and created an excellent platform for David Jones, having a great game as scrum-half.

Ollie Morgan, recovered from his injury, came back on for the second half.

Jack Lawrence scored a cracking try in the corner, which Narberth answered with a converted try from R. Watmore, bringing the score to 24-17.

With the game evenly poised, Robbie Tuttle took the initiative and scored the fifth try, which was a sight to behold as he kept running despite having five Narberth players clinging on to him like limpets, 29-17.

Training was paying off as Tenby's rucking and mauling was absolutely superb and the team played as a complete unit.

Dan Colley scored his fourth and final try, converted by Ollie Morgan, which brought the final score to 36-17, rounding off a fine display by the Tenby captain.

Sam Foster, debutant Robert Whitfield and Matthew Fleming all had sound games, with Sam Foster clocking up a fine personal score through his conversions.

Thanks to Rob Colley who came on for last 10 minutes as Tenby were down to 14 men.

Thanks also to Narberth for an excellent game and to Gethin for his usual fair refereeing.

The coaches didn't single out a man of the match, as the team all put in a superb performance.

The next match is away to Neyland, under lights, on November 21.

TENBY SWIFTS U11s 50 pts HAVERFORDWEST U11s 0

Make no mistake, despite the scoreline Haverfordwest were a useful bunch of players. That makes the result all the more outstanding. Ten tries were scored in all in what was a superb team performance on a greasy pitch last Sunday at Haverfordwest.

Tenby travelled with the bare minimum of 10 players, to face a team that had been bolstered since the first game of the season by four county players and who thought that they were in with a shout.

The early exchanges were fairly even, but Tenby showed their willingness to move the ball along the back line on what was a fairly narrow pitch.

Kiefer Thomson at scrum-half provided a first class service to outside-half Matthew Davies, who took the correct options to unleash his backs and also to probe the gaps.

Patrick Roberts, playing in the centre, completely stifled the opposing county player and cut the defence to ribbons in attack, with Toby Smith making some electrifying runs on the wing.

James Canton, captaining the side from fullback, joined the line in attack where appropriate and put in some fearless tackles in defence.

The forwards were immense. Joseff Morris who was superb with the ball in his hand led the pack in a demolition job of their opponents. Yannic Parker, Jack Baker and Daniel McDermott were an all-action front row who all made dashing runs into the heart of the opposition. Oliver Goldwait played his best game for the club so far with his driving play and winning of the ball in all situations.

After the initial exchanges, scores came with regularity, with Patrick leading the way with a hat-trick of tries, one of which came after a superb one-handed interception; Matthew bagged a pair, following a classic fly-half break; Toby, who must have covered every inch of the pitch, scored one; James crashed over in the corner in JPR style; and Kiefer, after providing the ball all match to his backs, decided at the end to make a lightning break and dive over for one.

All the forwards came close to scoring, including Daniel with a storming touchline run (welcome back Dan), Jack with his robust charges and Oliver with his athletic running. It was Yannic and Joseff from the forwards who did however score one apiece, with their abrasive, forceful style of running paying dividends.

In all, this was one of the best team performances of the year, with each individual giving a personal best performance.

Even the Haverfordwest crowd were appreciative of the style and manner of play and were most complimentary about Tenby's performance. It was superb entertainment on the day after the Welsh XV performance. Thank you lads, you did the game proud.

Tenby fielded: Jack Baker, Yannic Parker, Daniel McDermott, Joseff Morris, Oliver Goldwait, Kiefer Thomson, Matthew Davies, Patrick Roberts, Toby Smith and James Canton (capt).

TENBY SWIFTS U12s 28 pts NARBERTH U12s 43

As the scoreline suggests, this was a well fought tie between two very evenly matched sides.

Narberth had the edge on the day and played to their strengths, with scrum-half Rhys Davies constantly letting the backs off the leash to make inroads through the Tenby defence.

The home side had the edge up front, with big lock forward Luke Dedman scoring two well-taken tries and number eight Henry Boot picking up five points with a crash ball try.

Rob Colley was immense and never gave up continually thrusting forward.

Both front rows had committed games, Mathew Watkins, Tom Griffiths and Colley for Tenby and Yori Salter, Gwynfor Llewellyn and Deri Galvin for Narberth.

No 8 Aaron Keane had a superb game and picked up the opening try, outrunning the home backline. Rhys Davies extended Narberth's lead, breaking from the scrum.

Tenby fought back and some lovely handling from backs Scott Helmich, Sam Christopher and Jamie Robins set Simon Stanford off on a run and he scorched in for a fine try.

The Narberth backs are a well-drilled unit, with Rhidian Wyn at fly-half, centres Nick Bevan and Ryan Holder, wingers Chris Beff and Rhys Davies (not to be confused with the scrum-half) and fullback Jack McNorton.

Wyn and Bevan both picked up a brace of tries and McNorton scored as he screamed in at full pace for five points.

Tenby's Huw Evans and Liam Watkins were a powerful pair in the boiler-room, although Watkins went off with a back injury to give Richard Jones his debut for the Swifts.

The Otters also had class in the pack. Lock forwards Luke Batterson and Bobby Webb were a handful up front, while wing forwards Jamie Lewis and Alan Luke were all over the park.

Aaron Goldsmith and Ryan Lewis showed good pace for the home side.

Rhys Davies and Jamie Lewis kicked two apiece for the Otters and Guto Griffiths slotted over four for the Swifts.

Swifts scrum-half Sam Baker had a brilliant game and picked up a nasty head injury in the final minute, but three stitches later he was enjoying sausage and chips with the other lads at Fecci's.

The winner on the day was Pembrokeshire junior rugby played in the full spirit of the game. Well done both teams. Many thanks to Gethin Evans and Bobby Simons for refereeing a half each.

NOTE

Will all players and coaches of Tenby Swifts please ensure that raffle ticket money is handed into John Handicott or Linda John by Sunday morning at the latest, as the draw for the two Australia game tickets will be drawn during the matches against Pembroke at Heywood Lane on that day.

Swifts Under 9s, 10s and 14s to be at Heywood Lane for 10 am Sunday morning.