TENBY UNITED 8 pts

VARDRE 42

Tenby United's National League division three (west) season got off to a shaky start at Heywood Lane on Saturday as the Seasiders slumped to a heavy defeat at the hands of Vardre.

However, the 42 points to eight scoreline does not really to justice to the United, who battled throughout and only really fell apart in the final quarter after a disallowed try sapped their confidence.

After demotion from division two last season and a mass exodus of players, the Seasiders are in the process of rebuilding, noticeable from the fact that only six of last season's regulars appeared on Saturday's squad sheet - with two of those on the bench.

With the exception of newly-returned threequarters Jonathan Dodd and Neil Powling, the bulk of the Seasiders' line-up featured those who formed the backbone of the club's now mothballed second side, and who had skirted around the fringes of the National League set-up.

However, while they played with plenty of determination, they had no answer to Vardre up front, even when the Swansea Valley side were reduced to 14 men 15 minutes in when lock 'Crags' Bonnell was shown the red card for a foul on Tenby skipper Nicky Allen.

While the United started confidently and contested well for 60 minutes, the relative 'top flight' inexperience of their pack told as the game progressed, and their struggle in the set-pieces denied them a workable platform.

The Seasiders also failed to effectively exploit gaps behind the rather flat-lying Vardre threequarter line, and allowed the visitors to break the first line of defence virtually every time they ran with the ball in hand.

Tenby started brightly, with skipper Allen and back row partners Justin Richards and Rob James probing the Vardre defences with crash and drive.

Scrum-half Neil Duffy sniped away at the base, while stand-off Rob Davies, fullback Neil Powling and centre Dean Bowen all harnessed the wind to good advantage to maintain the homesters' momentum.

However, it was Vardre who took first strike against the run of play went they seized on a loose ball, took advantage of a Tenby side committed in the loose and sliced through to send wing Geraint John through on the overlap.

Outside-half Jonty Morris converted to put the visitors seven points in front, but was unsuccessful with a penalty minutes later when United wing Jonathan Dodd was yellow-carded.

However, it was not only the Seasiders who suffered for a lack of discipline at times, Bennett being sent for an early bath for a foul on Allen in the loose.

Nearing the half-hour, the wind changed and the swirling conditions made it harder for Powling to be as effective as he had been earlier.

He failed to find touch on a couple of occasions, presenting the pacy Vardre threes with the opportunity to counter-attack and from one such incident centre Gareth Noble was able to stretch his legs and run in their second try from inside his own half. Morris added the extras.

Centre Neil Truman and wing Gavin Brace used the touchline as extra man on a couple of occasions to close down Vardre, enabling the United to put pressure on the visitors and Duffy snaffled a try from a lineout five metres out following a good catch and drive by Peter James.

Powling sliced the conversion wide, but Morris had no such difficulty with a penalty at the other end to put Vardre 17-5 in front.

Tenby finished the half in dominant mood, with good phase play and set-pieces keeping them in the driving seat, but they were unable to improve the scoreline at the break.

Morris and Powling swapped penalties after the change around to make it 20-8 in the visitors' favour.

Turning point for many of the Tenby faithful came when Dodd, following up an astute kick ahead from Powling, had his resultant try disallowed for allegedly pushing Vardre fullback Chris Buckney off the ball.

It seemed to send shock waves through the Seasiders and looked to have affected their discipline, particularly when they gave an extra 30 yards away at three penalties for dissent.

It allowed Vardre wing Dai Connick to bag an unconverted try from close range which put a different complexion on the game.

From then on, Tenby seemed to be on the back foot, with visiting flanker Barry Picton making plenty of yardage from the base, aided by captain and back row partner Robin Foley.

Vardre brought their threes into play at every opportunity and Connick was unlucky not to bag his second when he was called back for a foot in touch after making a break down the line.

John made no mistake when Vardre again moved possession out wide, picking up his second try, which Morris converted, before Morris slotted over another penalty to make it 35-8.

Although Tenby struggled manfully, with Allen leading by example, they were not swarming the breakdown in enough numbers to prevent Vardre supplying quick ball to their threes and, even the injection of fresh legs in the shape of Nicky Rees, Richard Rossiter and Chris Brace, failed to stem the tide, with Noble bagging his second try and Morris converting to round off the scoreline.

Tenby United fielded: Neil Powling, Gavin Brace, Neil Truman, Dean Bowen, Jonathan Dodd (Nicky Rees), Rob Davies, Neil Duffy, Mark Badham, Lee Tucker (Richard Rossiter), Gareth Noot, Carl Broaders, Peter James, Nicky Allen (capt.), Justin Richards (Chris Brace), Robert James.