The Swifts under 15s team kicked off their season in style with an emphatic and classy win over Milford Haven at a windy Observatory ground last Sunday morning.

Strong wind can often spoil a game, but it didn't this one as Tenby adapted to score 29 points with it in the first half and 29 points against it in the second! Ten tries were scored in all, with Jamie Williams and Toby Smith grabbing a pair apiece, Chris Heesom, Tom Harland and forwards Yannic Parker, Joseff Morris, Jason Ronowitz and Andrew Evans scoring one each. Jamie Williams converted three and Patrick Roberts one.

With only 15 players on the team sheet and no subs on the bench, the Tenby boys knew they would have to deliver, and did.

The team has been together for a number of seasons and it showed. The boys knew each other's games and the spirit was unquestionable. Consequently, the team performance was cohesive and committed and was bolstered by some fine individual performances.

Jack Baker was elected captain for this season, a thoroughly deserved honour, and he proved to be the right choice with his committed style of play and encouragement of his players. He led a superb pack of forwards, in which Joseff Morris was outstanding. Joe is in the form of his life, with his dynamic ball carrying coupled with his ball winning skills, and is surely the best number seven in the county.

The exceptionally mobile pack ran their heavier Milford opponents off their feet, winning quick ruck ball at the breakdown to enable the speedy backs to strut their stuff. Locks Jason Ronowitz and Andrew Evans were abrasive runners, weighing in with tries, and number eight Patrick Roberts proved a good link between forwards and backs with his passing game. Hooker Yannic Parker was always to the fore with his direct approach and was up in support of every move, while prop Sam Ferguson proved his abilities in both tight and loose and Robert Jones proved solid and lively at tight-head Kiefer Thomson at scrum-half turned in a classic performance, whipping out the quick ball he was receiving and varying his play with some trademark jinking runs.

Toby Smith took on the number 10 job at short notice and was excellent. His judicious kicking in the wind and accurate passing led to a number of tries and, of course, he scored two himself, He's got the job!

Another to adapt at short notice was Matthew Davies, turning in a good performance at inside centre. He was inventive, strong in the tackle and a good link with the outside backs. A classic break in the second half merited a try, but unfortunately the final pass went astray.

Outside him was the powerful Jamie Williams, who all opponents have come to respect and find difficult to contain with his combined speed and strength. The two newcomers on the wings, Tom Harland and Will Hughes, turned in good performances.

They were both up against county wingers, but they snuffed out their much-vaunted opponents and contributed well in attack. Tom is more experienced at this level and is a good addition to the Swifts and showed the attacking abilities we have seen before. Will was something of an unknown quantity, but proved to all that he is is a good ball handler and brave tackler and a splendid recruit on his debut.

At fullback, of course, there was the electric pace of Chris Heesom, who sets the game alight every time he touches the ball. His positioning in the wind was excellent, which allowed him to field opposition kicks and launch exciting counter-attacks into the heart of the opposition.

The backs generally had some good ideas which were executed well, particularly taking into account the new midfield combination.

The Swifts management will endeavour to arrange another fixture very soon, as it would be a shame to let such a talented combination as we saw last Sunday drift on without a fixture, but as always happens in this age group, school and district county fixtures take their toll, which leaves some talented boys out in the cold and decimates the domestic season. It is only to be hoped that certain boys will not be lost to rugby as a result.

Tenby fielded: Chris Heesom, Will Hughes, Jamie Williams, Mathew Davies, Tom Harland, Tony Smith, Kiefer Thomson, Sam Ferguson, Yannic Parker, Robert Jones, Andrew Evans, Jason Ronowitz, Jack Baker (capt.), Patrick Roberts and Joseff Morris.