Tenby United 21 pts. Pembroke 10

On a superb sunny afternoon, with a gentle breeze coming in from the west, Chevron Texaco sponsored Tenby United took to the field at an immaculate Heywood Lane against a Pembroke side keen to inflict a rare double over the high-flying Seasiders. The occasion was somewhat overshadowed as a minute's silence was held before the kick-off for Glyn T. Cook, former hon. secretary of Pembroke RFC and the WRU District representative between 1981 and 1993, who sadly passed away on Thursday. A sizeable crowd had gathered for this local derby and expectations amongst both sets of supporters were high and both sides rose to the occasion to provide a free-flowing game, well-refereed by Martin Howells, of Ammanford. The game didn't start well for the visitors, however, as fly-half Phil Williams failed to achieve the necessary 10 metres with the kick-off and play was brought back to the halfway line for the first scrum. The passage of play that followed seemed to set the pattern for the afternoon, as kicks were exchanged. but play seemed to be concentrated around the halfway line. A transfer of play was eventually introduced when on the 10-minute mark, United fly-half Tom Lewis boomed out a huge touch kick, which took play deep into Pembroke territory and disruption at the ensuing lineout by Alex Jenkins and Nicky Allen forced the visitors backline to creep-up offside and Lewis opened the score with a well-struck penalty. Pembroke put one or two moves together, but the ball seemed simply to be transferred along the backline, with no real penetration being achieved, which made it easy for Tenby to react to and defend. This lack of forward momentum seemed to take its toll when frustration boiled over and prop Richard Morris was yellow-carded. Tenby showed Pembroke how good ball should have been used, with a sweeping move involving Lewis, Paul Luger, Nicky Allen and the impressive Tom Dennis, who chipped over the onrushing defence, regathered and set up a ruck. Quick ball provided Lewis with the opportunity to increase the score, but his attempted drop goal was low and off target. The ball was touched in flight, however, and bobbled over the deadball line. The scrum that followed provided Tenby with the attacking platform they needed and, by wheeling it slightly, it enabled number eight Sam Smith to pick-up from the base and feed the alert Rhys Thomas, who presented fly-half Lewis with the scoring pass, which he gratefully accepted as he strolled over to increase the lead to 8-0. The restart presented Pembroke with their initial scoring opportunity when a knock-on was fielded by a player standing in front, and the resulting penalty by Phil Williams was just the response they needed to the Tenby score. The home side continued to provide Pembroke with scoring opportunities when a series of sloppy passes right in front of their posts presented Williams with his second penalty opportunity within minutes of his previous attempt, but fortunately for the home side, this one skewed wide of the uprights. Play returned to the halfway line as both sides tried to force openings and a pair of crunching tackles, the first by centre Arthur M-M, who was having an excellent creative afternoon, and the second by Nicky Allen, who appeared to be everywhere, halted attempts by the visitors to take play out of this zone. These tackles and excellent defence by Tenby were forcing Pembroke into passages of play where a player was getting isolated and left holding-on to the ball. The net result was that the penalty count against the visitors increased dramatically, much to the annoyance of their supporters, and frustration was also evident amongst the players. Tenby, on the other hand, involved supporting players in the moves they were creating and another sweeping one involved Tom Dennis, who initially fielded a probing kick by Pembroke, before setting-off on one of his surging gallops and linking with Lewis, Arthur M-M and wing Harry Bolton, with the ball neatly being switched back to Arthur M-M as Bolton cleverly stepped inside his marker off his left foot. The move broke down and Pembroke were penalised for diving onto the ensuing ruck, but the ambitious penalty attempt from way out by Lewis was nowhere near the target, much to the joy of the visiting band of supporters. With the half coming to a close, a quick breakaway by the visitors took play deep into the Tenby half and from a lineout close to the try line, a catch and drive ended with prop Richard Mason being driven over wide out. Williams added to the Pembroke tally with a superb conversion to give his side a somewhat flattering lead of 10-0. Tenby were forced to make a change at this stage in the proceedings, with prop Mark Brace going off with a broken finger and young Geoff Martin coming on. Stung somewhat by this reverse, Tenby went straight on the attack and forced Pembroke to concede a penalty for off-side, allowing the home side to very quickly regain the lead as Lewis stroked over the penalty. Not satisfied with this score, Tenby increased the tempo of play and Pembroke finished the half just about keeping the score at 11-10 when first Lewis and wing Gavin Brace combined to create an opening, which was stopped just short of the try line, allowing Sam Smith to collect from the rear of the ruck and attempt to bullock his way over, only to be stopped inches short of the whitewash. Referee Howells brought play to a halt as he blew for half-time, with the crowd looking forward to more of the same in the second period in terms of entertainment. Kicking-off, Tenby, in the shape of Geoff Martin, who clattered the catcher, were far more aggressive in both their defence, as well as attacking moves, as winger Boton was next to illustrate. Fielding a speculative kick, he made his intentions clear as he ran straight into a would-be double tackle by Dai Beynon and Steve Dyde, laying both Pembroke men out flat. Dyde came off second best as he left the field of play and Beynon soldiered on, shaken by this clash of bodies. An attacking move involving Arthur M-M and wing Gavin Brace took play deep into the Pembroke half, only for the ball to be turned over, and it was the visiting side that nearly added to their score when a surging blind-side break by wing McNally was stopped by a superb tackle by Gavin Brace, who had got back to defend the line. The next 10 minutes or so saw play yet again confined to the middle of the park as attempts to break through were stopped and relieving kicks to touch all seemed to be attracted to the halfway spot. One breakaway by Pembroke showed the determination the home side had in terms of preventing a score, as three defenders engulfed McNally as he made a desperate surge for the line. Feeling the knock from his earlier encounter, wing Harry Bolton was replaced by Will Crockford, who was straight into action as, with a tremendous turn of speed, he put in a tackle on Bowen as he fielded a kick through from Tom Lewis, which allowed the supporting Sam Smith and Nicky Allen to maintain the momentum, only to see an attempted drop goal by Lewis sail wide of the uprights. Play quickly switched to the other end, only for rampaging fullback Tom Dennis to set off on an arcing run, which ended with a scrum for a knock- on, on or about the halfway line. Coach Davies took hard-working flanker Wyndham Williams off at this point for a well-earned rest, with Richard Rossiter taking his place. As with Will Crockford before him, Rossiter was immediately involved in play when a series of cheeky dummies, as he flirted with the touchline, allowed a move to develop, with passes involving Sam Smith and Rhys Thomas ultimately releasing Thomas who chipped ahead for Arthur M-M to gather and throw a superb dummy, which was bought by the last line of defence, ending with him crossing the try line close to the sticks. For some unaccountable reason, the conversion by Lewis ricocheted off the upright, leaving Pembroke trailing by a tantalising 16-10. Tenby were now putting all their moves together, as they were obviously intent on putting the game safe, and a slick move involving Lewis, and centre Luger tested the visiting defence to the full. Rhys Thomas initiated the next attack when Bowen fumbled a high up-and-under and the ever-alert Nicky Allen was up in support, forcing Pembroke to minor the ball. Play was brought back to within striking distance of the Pembroke line with a sweeping move involving both backs and forwards and some back-chat to referee Howells by a frustrated Pembroke player provided Lewis with the next scoring opportunity, which just shaved the upright. Pressure was now being applied at the set-piece, with the Tenby front five very solid, as well as at the lineout, with Alex Jenkins and Nicky Allen not only securing the Tenby throw-ins, but also now starting to disrupt the Pembroke lineout. The back row were also at their creative and disruptive best for the entire game, with flanker Emyr Hughes having a magnificent game and leading by example, more than ably supported by Sam Smith and newcomer to the fray Richard Rossiter, and the player he replaced, Wyndham Williams. A crooked throw at an attacking lineout gave Tenby the put-in at a scrum on their 22 and a superb clearing kick and chase by Rhys Thomas saw the move develop with Sam Smith and Arthur M-M involved, ending with wing Will Crockford bolting over for a superb length of the field attack, taking the scores out to 21-10. Hard working prop Ed Ayres was replaced by Wyndham Williams, who had thought his stint on the field was done, but rolling-up his sleeves, he simply smiled as he trotted back onto the field and packed down at the next scrum. Such is the good feeling and confidence within the team at present. Searching kicks by half-backs Thomas and Lewis were putting the pressure on the Pembroke back three, and as each of the wingers scampered back to retrieve the ball, they had no alternative but to hurriedly ship the ball to fullback Bowen, who sliced his touch-finders, doing little to ease the pressure. The kicks were turned into excellent kicks by the quality work put in by the chasing players and Emyr Hughes stood out as being the prime candidate for man-of-the-match in this aspect of his play alone. Not only did he give chase, but his all-embracing smother-tackling style prevented any unloading of the ball by the Pembroke side as they became bogged down deep in their 22. It was evident that frustration was beginning to creep into the Pembroke play and it came as no surprise when their second row was sent from the field for illegal use of the boot at a ruck. A final pot at goal, with a speculative drop goal by Lewis, brought play to a close as a dispirited and disgruntled Pembroke side trooped off the field, while a jubilant home team were greeted and congratulated by coaches Davies and Brace, for not only preventing Pembroke from recording a double, but for recording their ninth win on the trot to maintain the pressure on league leaders Llanybydder and taking the local bragging rights back to a full and thriving clubhouse in Upper Frog Street. With a break of a week because of the Scotland v Wales game, the players will be let-off training on Tuesday, but get together on Thursday, as well as getting together on the 13th and 15th as they prepare for their next match, yet another local derby, away to Crymych (currently fifth in the league) on Saturday, February 17. Tenby Rotary Club sponsored the match and ball sponsors were Heywood Butchers of Saundersfoot, Nigel Edwards - Kiln Park, Darren Griffiths and Goofy's Garden Services, for which Tenby United RFC are extremely grateful. Tenby fielded: Tom Dennis, Harry Bolton (Will Crockford), Paul Luger, Arthur M-M, Gavin Brace (capt.), Tom Lewis, Rhys Thomas, Mark Brace (Geoff Martin), Mike Lewis, Ed Ayres, Nicky Allen, Alex Jenkins, Emyr Hughes, Sam Smith, Wyndham Williams (Richard Rossiter)