In a match that saw Tenby flanker-cum-wing Harry Bolton, who was playing in the centre, break both his right fibula and tibia, his team-mates dug deep and ground out a deserved win against a Gowerton side that were prepared to contest every ball and every inch of the field.
With several late withdrawals, it was a strange looking Tenby United line-up that took to the field in blustery, but sunny conditions at Gowerton. A scrum-half at outside-half, loose-head at tight-head, hooker on the wing, second row at open-side and Neil Powling playing his first game since October 18 all highlighted the challenges that had beset coach Gareth Thomas and his team when getting a XV on the field for this latest division three west league match. With that sort of lead-up to the game, things did not seem to favour Tenby as they attempted to get back to winning ways.
Despite what appeared to be an uphill task, Tenby started brightly enough, with Andrew Davies finding touch with a superb kick to the corner after five minutes play. A lineout steal by the athletic Gareth Edwards, followed by the customary forward drive, ended with the home side being penalised for offside and Darren Rees accepted the chance to put Tenby three points ahead.
However, displaying one aspect of their play that has continually let them down all season, Tenby totally fluffed the catch from the restart and from the resulting penalty Gowerton quickly levelled the score.
Encouraged by this success and the noisy support from the touchline, the home side struck again and it took a bone-crunching tackle from a fit again Justin Richards to halt the Gowerton wing forward as he made valuable yards toward the Tenby line. With the ball quickly secured from the ensuing ruck, Will Crockford, Harry Bolton, Chris James and Richards took play deep into the Gowerton half, only to see their opponents illegally kill the ball again at the ruck.
This time the attempt at goal sailed wide, but within minutes fullback Rees made amends when he fired over his next penalty attempt, given when the home side were adjudged to have illegally held the ball, stopping a strong burst by centre Bolton.
The unlikely centre combination of Bolton and Powling were standing-up well to the attempts by the home side to break through the middle and a flying tackle by Bolton reminded the home centres that it would take something special to cross the try line.
From a bizarre attacking maul, Gowerton took the lead when their prop emerged unchallenged from the side of the ruck and, although well tackled by Rees, as last line of defence, he managed to slip the ball to the supporting fullback who put the wing over in the corner for an unconverted try and an 8-6 lead.
Following the Tenby pattern, it was the home side that made a hash of receiving the kick-off, but instead of being awarded a penalty as the ball was knocked forward and then played by a colleague standing in front of the knock-on offence, a scrum was awarded. A back row move off the base of the scrum saw Crockford feed the ball to a rampaging Mark Brace who made valuable yards, only to be halted just short of the try line. For his troubles, Brace was replaced by Craig Hamilton as the hard-working prop retired with a blood injury.
The home side were next to threaten when a rolling maul set-up an attacking platform, only to be thwarted when a smiling Scott Payne emerged from the side of the maul to put a halt to proceedings. Not to be discouraged, the home side set-up a series of concerted attacks leading up to half-time and increased their lead with another penalty, which saw Tenby trailing 11-6.
Starting the second half as they finished the first, Gowerton were going all out to increase their lead, but a missed penalty attempt by their fullback and a series of excellent tackles kept the Tenby line intact. The pressure, however, eventually told and the home outside-half slotted his third successful penalty, awarded when the Tenby threes were adjudged to have been offside.
This latest set-back spurred Tenby into action as they saw the game slipping away and yet another defeat looming on the horizon. Their cause was helped considerably when the home coach surprisingly replaced one of the props (who had been giving everybody in a red and black shirt a reminder that he was on the park) and the scrum-half, who had been a threat all afternoon. Justin Richards tested the home side's defence when he charged away from a maul and linked with the halfbacks, whose inter-passing nearly resulted in a score.
Camped deep in the home side's 22, Tenby came away with the score they deserved when an accurate throw by Mike Lewis found the high-leaping Gareth Edwards, who delivered a superb ball 'off the top' to scrum-half Will Crockford, who scampered over unopposed for a well-worked team try. With Darren Rees adding the extras, the margin was now down to a single point and all to play for.
Gowerton immediately went into attack mode, but a dropped ball provided the opportunity for Tenby to break-out, and it was Harry Bolton who hacked the ball up field and eagerly set-off in pursuit. As he shaped to hack the ball on again, a home player attempted to smother the ball just as Harry was making contact and the horrific sound was clearly heard all around the ground.
When play was resumed, Tenby had slotted the industrious number eight Anthony Griffiths into the centre to replace the unfortunate Harry Bolton, with Niffy Brace and James Caine (on for the very promising Gareth Edwards) joining their ranks, giving rise to numerous shufflings of back row and second row resources.
The mood of the Tenby players immediately changed following the departure of Bolton, with calls clearly shouted on by coach Thomas that this was going to be a win "for Harry."
Having shaded the lineouts with the starting line-up, the percentage of takes against the throw significantly increased with the impressive and tall James Caine now present to aid the hard working 'Cone' James, who was now operating in his customary second row berth. This regular source of ball provided the platform on which the majority of attacks emerged as Tenby clawed their way back into the game.
A penalty given away by an over-stretched home defence gave Darren Rees the opportunity to put Tenby into the lead and his well struck attempt sailed accurately through the sticks to give Tenby a deserved 16-14 lead going into the final 10 minutes of the match.
Defying any attempt to get the ball as far away from their try line as possible, Tenby then embarked on a passage of play that nearly presented the home side with the chance to steal a win. A very vocal Gareth Thomas reminded them of how the game, at this stage of the proceedings, ought to have been played. With this advice ringing in their ears, Tenby then 'shut up shop' and, despite one or two late strikes for the try line by Gowerton, the final whistle brought proceedings to a halt and "a win for Harry" had been achieved.
This was a classic case of 'the reserves' digging into their reserves. Short of at least10 regular first team members through injury and unavailability, the XV that took to the park did themselves and the club proud the way they rose to the challenge and stuck to their task for the full 80 minutes. An excellent team effort.
Tenby: Darren Rees, Mark Stevens, Harry Bolton (Chris Brace), Neil Powling, Nicky Guymer, Andrew Davies, Will Crockford, Mark Brace, Mike Lewis, Scott Payne, Gareth Edwards (James Caine), Jeremy Rossiter, Chris James, Anthony Griffiths, Justin Richards.
Subs not used: Craig Hamilton (blood replacement x2), Adam Rees.