Trimsaran 8 pts. Tenby United 3
Tenby travelled to Trimsaran, knowing that anything less than a win would probably end what aspirations they had of grabbing the second promotion spot in Division 4 West, as a draw or defeat would then have them waiting on the remaining results from other games across the division as the season rapidly draws to a close. As it transpired, they suffered a defeat in what was a very tight game, which was to be expected as both teams have excellent defensive records and despite their positions in the league, went into this game having let their opponents cross their try line on 29 (Trimsaran) and 25 (Tenby) occasions. Shouts of "no respect"... everything... no missed tackles" were being bellowed as Tom Lewis kicked off with a swirling wind just about favouring the men in red and black and a series of scrappy moves and kicks eventually brought play back to the halfway line as the two teams struggled to come to terms with a combination of the wind and some early ferocious tackles being put in by both sides. Tenby drew a penalty from the home side as they strayed offside in attempting to stop a Tenby attack from developing and Lewis fired an excellent kick straight and true from the Trimsaran 10-metre line to put the visitors up 3-0. The game was developing like a boxing match, with both sides testing the defences of the opponents, with Tenby being shown the way to defend by Emori Katalau and Mark Heywood, who put in some bone-crunching tackles. Heywood also figured in the next threatening Tenby attack as a well-rehearsed training paddock move saw him crash through the home defence, but unfortunately the quick ball that was secured was wasted as one of the passes attempted by his fellow threequarters sailed into touch on the wind. Tenby started to exert pressure at scrum time, with Trimsaran on the retreat, and with Tom Lewis spoiling at the base, number eight Downey and scrum-half Dafydd Latham were forced to find the sanctuary of the touchline. From a defensive miss-kick, Steve Ireland fielded the ball and cleverly linked with wing Jimmy Davies, but the move broke down as Tenby were slow getting to the maul and Trimsaran were awarded a penalty as they held on to possession. With both Emori and skipper Ifan Davies gaining a regular supply of clean lineout ball, Trimsaran were forced to offend continuously and referee Peter Young was very tolerant in only awarding a string of penalties when a yellow-card would certainly have stopped the interference. Both sides were swinging the ball from left to right, and back again, trying to find or create a chink in the sound defensive walls that were always in place at any breakdown situation, but the half drifted to a close with Trimsaran the happier as they would now have the advantage of the wind, which had swung around and was now fully in their favour. The half started badly for Tenby with nobody claiming the kick-off and for this lapse, they were pinned on their own line for the first seven minutes as the home side attempted to batter their way over with a series of pick and go's. To their credit, the Tenby defence held firm, while at the same time not giving any penalties away, and it was Trimsaran who cracked first, conceding a penalty for offside and allowing Lewis to clear the ball upfield. Frustration started to creep into the Trimsaran game and a a very ambitious drop goal attempt by their fly-half, Peter Jones, brought howls of derision from the home support as his fellow threequarters were lined-up unmarked outside him. Following a good break by United number eight Wyndham Williams, Trimsaran were presented with another opportunity to spin the ball wide when they secured the ball at the breakdown, but instead of trusting his fellow threequarters, this time Jones fired the ball into touch. Johnny Lane, who had been hobbling for the majority of the second half, was eventually replaced by Ben Cray and he was straight into action as an over-throw by Trimsaran was pounced on by Lewis, who quickly fed the ball out to fly-half Michael Georgiau, who neatly set in motion a threatening move involving Nicky Allen, Dai Meyrick, Ben Cray and Mark Heywood. The scrambling Trimsaran defence managed to cope with this attack, but quick ball at the breakdown saw wing Jimmy Davies come in field and link uwith his fellow threes and skipper Ifan Davies, but, as with most of the moves being put together, the home side comfortably defended the situation and eventually booted the ball clear. Tenby entered a silly five-minute passage when first a high tackle, which was followed by the most obvious penalty imaginable for diving on the ball as it emerged from a ruck, forced play deep into the Tenby 22, but they were again saved by the over- eager home side forwards, who drifted offside, allowing Lewis to once again come to the rescue as he blasted the ball back to the halfway line. Coach Davies brought on replacement flanker Harry Bolton, with Emyr Hughes trooping off, and with the home side upping the pace, the speed and aggression of Bolton was soon called into action. Despite being camped on the Tenby line for long periods, ironically, the best scoring chance came from a lost ball situation deep in the Trimsaran 22, with the home threes breaking away, and it took some very heroic defending by Emori Katalau and Dai Meyrick to prevent them getting a try. From a resulting scrum, the Tenby eight were put under immense pressure as the home side went for the kill and from one collapsed scrum situation prop Mark Brace left the field to be replaced by Nicky Guymer. With two props off injured, the referee opted for passive scrums and the defensive qualities of forwards Emori, Ben Cray, Wyndham Williams and Mike Lewis were tested to the full, ably backed by Mark Heywood, Gavin Brace and Jimmy Davies. But the pressure eventually paid dividends when a clever switch of play accompanied by an outrageous dummy by fly-half Jones saw second row Leighton Griffiths ecstatically romp over the line wide out for an unconverted try and a narrow 5-3 lead for the home side. In an attempt to inject some new ideas into the attacks being unsuccessfully put together by Tenby, Dai Meryck was brought off and Rhys Thomas went to scrum-half, Tom Lewis, Mikey Georgiau and Gavin Brace all moved out a position to fly-half, inside an outside centre and Mark Heywood slotted in on the wing. Thomas was straight into action probing the blind side and was called into action again within minutes to pull off a superb covering tackle as the home side threatened to breakout. Try as they might, Tenby simply could not crack the well-organised defence and were being out- muscled and out-thought at the breakdown and it came as no surprise when from a brief sortie into the Tenby half, number 10 Jones slotted a well- taken drop goal and Trimsaran were home and dry, 8-3. Mathematically there is still a chance to clinch second spot in the league, but that will also require Tenby to score a hatful of tries at Morriston, in their last game tomorrow (Saturday), and hope that Crymych fair badly in their last two home games. Since coming to Tenby a couple of weeks ago and letting the game slip from a commanding lead, to a fortunate draw, Morriston have rattled up 133 points in the two games played. The game down the M4 will therefore be a real test of resilience and character for coaches Davies and Katalau along with the Tenby United 1st XV squad, as Morriston will undoubtedly take to the field keen to gain some revenge for what they regarded as an unlucky draw, as well as wanting to round off their season in front of their buoyant home support with a resounding victory. Tenby fielded: Steve Ireland, Dai Meryck (Rhys Thomas), Gavin Brace, Mark Heywood, Jimmy Davies, Michael Georgiau, Tom Lewis, Mark Brace (Nicky Guymer), Mike Lewis, Johnny Lane (Ben Cray), Ifan Davies, Emori Katalau, Wyndham Williams, Emyr Hughes (Harry Bolton).