Already relegated from National League division three (west), there was no end of season joy for Tenby United on Saturday as they slumped to a 50 points to 12 defeat at the hands of league high-flyers Resolven in the Seasiders' final home game at Heywood Lane.

Although it may have been the last home game, there was no end of season feel to the way the Seasiders came out of the blocks and, with a few familiar faces back in Red and Black after injury, they had the visitors under pressure in the opening quarter.

Skipper Nicky Allen led by example, as always, around the fringes and at the breakdown, aided by back row colleagues Mike Evans and Chris Brace, while scrum-half Neil Duffy did sterling work acting as a ninth forward and linkman to stand-off Neil Powling.

Front row trio of Lee Tucker, Mark Badham and Richard Rossiter made plenty of yardage with the ball in hand, while Paul Broaders and Peter James ensured the supply of possession at the linesout.

Although they struggled a little defensively against their nippy Resolven counterparts, Tenby centres Gavin Brace and Carl Broaders were full of inventive running, while fullback Jonathan Dodd and wings Nicky Rees and Mark Wooles were always looking to push forward.

However, determined defence by Resolven kept the United out and the homesters suffered a crisis of confidence when they were hit for six by two breakaway tries against the run of play.

It allowed the visitors to steal a march and open up a 22-0 interval lead.

Although the United never allowed their heads to drop, and clawed back some points in the second half, they were always up against it playing catch up rugby, and Resolven were able to steam their way to a half century of points.

The visitors opened their account following turnover ball which they recycled well to send pacy centre Paul Davies on a jinking run through the Tenby defence to touch down and outside-half Phil Evans converted.

Although Tenby countered with free-flowing open rugby, they were unable to breach the Resolven defence from promising positions, and the visitors edged further in front when Evans spotted space behind the Tenby line and sent a kick through.

Davies outpaced the retreating Tenby cover and touched down in the corner, but Evans was unable to add the extras.

With number eight and captain Billy Shelton leading from the front, Resolven started to put pressure on the United, with tight phase play and a speedy threequarter line making inroads into Tenby territory.

Although Evans was unlucky to see a penalty strike an upright and bounce the wrong way, scrum-half Neil Goldsworthy extended the lead when he slotted over a drop goal, before wing Simon Hutchings scampered through to collect a chip from Evans and touch down under the posts.

Evans added the extras to make it 22-0 at the break.

Tenby suffered a blow towards the end of the first half when they lost the services of Evans for 15 minutes for treatment to a blood injury, while midway through the second half Chris Brace was forced to leave the field with ankle trouble.

During the break, the Seasiders also replaced Nicky Rees with Deryn Brace, who proved fearless both in attack and defence.

Resolven increased their lead further still after the break when Hutchings capitalised on some slack passing in the threequarter-line, seized a loose ball and hared over to touch down another try converted by Evans.

Tenby hit back, however, when they broke the gain line three times with quick phase play to give Rossiter the space to send Gavin Brace over under the posts and leave Powling with the easiest of conversions.

The visitors struck back almost immediately when Evans picked up a try and converted his own touchdown.

A well placed kick by Powling was followed up by the United, with good support at the breakdown creating the space for Dodd, who joined the line at pace to claim an unconverted try.

Resolven countered again, with flanker John McPhail being rewarded for his industry throughout with a try converted by Goldsworthy.

McPhail bagged his second right from the restart when Resolven moved the ball out wide to Hutchings who jinked through and covered 35 metres before finding the flanker in close support at his shoulder.

Goldsworthy's conversion brought the 50 up for the visitors with what turned out to be the last kick of the game.

Tenby fielded: Jonathan Dodd, Nicky Rees, Carl Broaders, Gavin Brace, Mark Wooles, Neil Powling, Neil Duffy, Lee Tucker, Richard Rossiter, Mark Badham, Peter James, Paul Broaders, Mike Evans, Nicky Allen (capt), Chris Brace.