Tenby United 28 pts.

Neyland 9

Another home victory in the push towards promotion, but a bonus point opportunity lost. That basically sums up Tenby United's efforts as they saw off a dogged Neyland outfit on Saturday.

The Coastal Cottages sponsored Seasiders will reflect on numerous opportunities where they over-complicated matters and looked for unnecessary midfield miss-moves as they looked for the fourth try that their dominance of possession deserved.

The United showed good intent early on, returning stand-off Tom Lewis shunning some regulation shots at goal, preferring to kick for position. Only some brave defence from the All Blacks kept the home eight at bay in the opening five minutes, but some powerful work at scrum time broke this early resistance.

Some good work from Robbie Clarke, skipper Nicky Guymer and Johnny Palmer saw the United take the scrum against the head and the threequarters made the most of the chance, Gavin Brace and Toby Smith showing slick handling to put winger Dan Colley over in the corner. Lewis converted majestically from the touchline to put the home side 7-0 up.

The Seasiders looked to build on this, open-side flanker Jason Ronowitz showing great strength in open play to put the All Blacks on the defensive. But the United were unable to capitalise from their early dominance and the visitors seized on some loose play from the Seasiders before Toby Smith was penalised for holding on the floor to give the visitors their first scoring opportunity.

Stand-off Mark Riley slotted the resulting penalty from 25 metres out to bring his side back into contention with nearly a quarter gone.

And the visitors were presented with another shot at goal just minutes later when United scrum-half Richard Rossiter was adjudged to have tackled his opposite number before the ball was out of the scrum. This time, though, the kick was from almost the halfway line and Riley's effort never looked like it had the legs.

Rossiter was soon on the wrong side of referee Richard Brace again and this time was shown the yellow card after he deliberately knocked the ball down, halting a promising attack from the All Blacks.

The visitors clearly sensed that they were getting into the match and the Seasiders could count themselves lucky when a straightforward try-scoring chance went a begging. The visiting threes spread the ball right after some good tight work from the forwards. Tom Lewis bolted up into the line, looking for the interception, but missed out, leaving a clear overlap.

Veteran number eight Matthew Williams fed second row Mark James with a seemingly perfect pass, but the lock fumbled with the line in his sights.

Although they missed out, this gave the visitors a real sense of optimism and they utilised their pick and drive game well, getting to within a few yards of the United line once again.

But indiscipline cost them as they were penalised for going straight to the floor and the United could clear.

As the visitors showed more and more belief, the United appeared to play into their hands, the match becoming scrappy. In fact, another penalty came the way of the visitors in almost identical fashion to their first score, this time Arthur MM being pinged for holding on the floor.

This time the visitors opted for the kick to the corner, but they soon created another scoring opportunity, with another penalty conceded by the Seasiders for slowing the ball at the ruck. This time Riley took the shot at goal and narrowed the Tenby lead to a single point.

The United almost had the chance to strike back straight away when they were handed a penalty of their own in the Neyland 22, but the decision was reversed when the referee intervened following some afters at the ruck. Flanker Ronowitz and Neyland scrum-half Steven Hamer were given 10 minutes to cool off as the half drew to a disappointing end.

Thankfully the United started the second period with greater intent and were immediately on the front foot when a snaking run from winger Simon Stanford earned an early penalty. Lewis stepped up to calm the nerves of home supporters, slotting the goal to extend the lead to 10-6.

The home side had clearly had a good talking to at the break and nearly crossed for their second try, Richard Rossiter being held up over the line as the United pressed. Tenby conceded a free-kick at the ensuing scrum for an early engage, but Lewis was given another shot at goal soon after Neyland were guilty of holding at the ruck and stand-off Riley saw yellow. The kick was a formality, putting the Seasiders seven points clear with half-an-hour remaining.

Finally Tenby crossed for their second try after some good work from flanker Luke Dedman and winger Colley. Fullback Toby Smith was in good support on the left flank and showed good strength to go in at the corner for an unconverted score.

Robbie Clarke then left the fray, being replaced on the loose-head by Scott Payne, with Terry John coming on for Dedman and skipper Guymer slotting into the back row.

The United kept the scoreboard ticking over, Lewis adding another penalty to make it 21-6 after yet another holding on the floor indiscretion from the visitors. But the visitors pulled the three points back when they were given a penalty in front of the United posts, Riley slotting his third kick of the afternoon.

Not content with his first try of the afternoon, Toby Smith bagged a well-deserved second after some great work from Rossiter following the restart. The United recycled possession well and number eight Sam Smith showed the upper body strength that he is known for, before feeding brother Toby to cross at almost the identical spot that he had done for his first score.

Lewis slotted another superb conversion to make it 28-9 and with time apparently on their side and the visitors tiring, a bonus point seemed on the cards.

But the vital fourth score failed to materialise, as the United failed to do the simple things well.

This was another fairly convincing win in the final analysis, but home supporters will hope that they United don't rue what should have been another bonus point in the bag.

The Seasiders' next league outing sees them take on Milford Haven at the Observatory on Tuesday, March 15, with a 7.15 pm kick-off.

Tenby fielded: Toby Smith; Dan Colley, Arthur MM, Gavin Brace, Simon Stanford; Tom Lewis, Richard Rossiter; Rob Clarke, Nicky Guymer (capt.), Johnny Palmer, Wyndham Williams, Gareth Edwards, Jason Ronowitz, Luke Dedman, Sam Smith. Replacements - Dan Thomas, Scott Payne, Terry John, Llaisa Torau.