There was little Christmas cheer for Tenby United at Heywood Lane on Saturday as they slumped to a 29 points to 20 defeat at the hands of high flying Pontyberem in this National League division four (west) fixture.
However, the scoreline did flatter the visitors somewhat following a tight tussle with 'Bont being aided in no small part by indiscipline amid the Seasiders ranks which gifted them three fairly simple penalties.
Although Pontyberem had a pacy three-quarter line, the United contested well in the loose and were creative enough behind but much of their ambition was thwarted by slipshod handling and unforced errors which allowed the visitors to steal a march.
To their credit the Seasiders fought back from a 10-nil deficit, to level matters at 15-15 and were still plugging away at the Bont line at the end when 29-20 down, but it was again a case of missed opportunities.
Pontyberem stated their intentions from the outset when early pressure netted them a try before many of the large crowd had taken up their positions around the ground.
From the kick off quick recycling allowed them to drive deep into the Tenby 22 before scrum half Jonathan Clayton popped over for a try, which he converted himself to give the visitors a seven point head start.
Tenby pivot Bleddyn Evans was off target with a penalty for the homesters before another quick handling movement by Bont gained them a foothold in Tenby territory and Clayton gratefully accepted the opportunity to bang over a penalty following some Tenby indiscipline at the breakdown.
Tenby struck right back with Anthony Griffiths securing ball off the foot for the Seasiders before quick recycling allowed half backs Evans and Dylan Lawrence to get their threes moving.
Sion Brace at centre judged his timing perfectly to send an accurately angled chip over the closing Bont defence towards the Knowling Mead corner, with speedy United fullback Darren Rees winning the race to the ball just as it crossed the visitors' try line.
Evans did well to land the conversion from wide out and then put Tenby back on terms with a penalty after Nicky Allen was illegally impeded when he secured possession following a jinking run from the wiry Rees.
Having a slight edge in the lines out despite the best industries of Paul Broaders and ben Armstrong, Bont were able to use the platform to try and crash through the Tenby mid-field, and quick recycling at the breakdown of one such attack on the half hour game them the opportunity to create a two man overlap out wide for wing Emyr Walters to touch down an unconverted try near the corner.
Evans failed with a drop goal for Tenby but a line-out steal by Broaders allowed the United to work their way back down field with Allen, Griffiths and Justin Richards all crashing over the gain line.
Good control at the resultant ruck again allowed Lawrence to move the ball out wide with Brace again flighting a well judged chip for Rees to run onto and touch down, this time in the Heywood Mount corner.
Evans sliced the conversion wide, leaving the teams all square at 15-all but two penalties in quick succession following silly mistakes from the United in the loose gave Clayton the chance to put 'Bont into a six point interval lead.
'Bont edged further in front after the change around when quick recycling created the space for wing Emyr Harries to cross in the corner for an unconverted try.
Tenby made several changes to their line up in the third quarter with Gene Hocking coming on for Allen; Chris James for Armstrong Steve Williams replacing Lawrence and Dai Balkwill taking over from Payne in the front row.
However, things were a little static, with slow recycling and poor ball retention in the tackle allowing 'Bont to turn over and exploit space behind the rather flat lying Tenby line.
Tenby absorbed the pressure well however, although Clayton was given the opportunity to increase the visitors' lead further still when Tenby were punished for talking back to referee Gareth Widlake following one of his decisions.
Going into the last quarter Tenby started to increase the tempo, with Williams grafting away at scrum half and Broaders and Gavin Brace working well in tandem to try and exploit the blind side.
The Seasiders also brought more width to their game, and centre Truman's tactical experience was well to the fore.
After wrong footing the Bont defence, Truman took the inside track to make ground, only to lose the ball in the contact, but Tenby marshalled their forces well to keep the visitors hemmed in their own territory.
Gaining a scrum five metres out, the Seasiders controlled the ball well to allow number eight Richards to pick up from the base and drive over for what is fast becoming his trade mark try.
The touchdown went unconverted and, while Tenby played with tremendous passion in the closing stages they were unable to break the tight Pontyberem defence again.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Tenby travel to take in Ystalyfera.
Tenby United fielded: Darren Rees, Gavin Brace, Neil Truman, Sion Brace, Neil Powling, Bleddyn Evans, Dylan Lawrence, Scott Payne, Richard Rossiter (capt), Lee Tucker, Ben Armstrong, Paul Broaders, Anthony Griffiths, Nicky Allen, Justin Richards.