TENBY SWIFTS U14s 13 pts NARBERTH 5
This was an important match for the two sides, being the local derby.
It was clear from the start that it was game on and both sides put on an excellent display of rugby.
However, the Swifts had much of the play in the first half and showed how well they play when they play as a team, and that's what they did - it was team work all the way.
It was only a matter of time before the Swifts scored and after a sustained bout of pressure Daniel Colley threw himself over the try line to open the scoring.
The second try was scored by Adam Ball in style.
In the second half, the Swifts allowed Narberth to come back into the game and Lloyd Phillips opened the scoring for them.
Adam Ball then kicked a penalty, rounding off a fine display.
The forwards were a force to contend with. Nick Drewitt's work rate was incredible and he was a major player for the Swifts, Adam Ball, strong in the linesout, also had a excellent game, while Dan Colley, Robbie Tuttle and Sam Foster all played up a year and did a tremendous job. Johnny Walker played his best game to date and his throw-ins found his jumpers in the well-worked linesout.
Adam Hughes, Lawrence Davies, Paul Woods, Thomas Penson and Arron Sutton kept the solid platform for Rhys Thomas and Steve Handicott, the half-backs, to feed backs Lloyd Wilson and Ben Field-Thomas, who had excellent games, both in defence and attack.
Barry John and Sam Foster did a sound job on the wings and Johnny Lewis had his first game as fullback and played a blinder.
Thanks to Gethin Evans for his fair refereeing, and thanks to Narberth for an excellent game and for the spirit in which it was played.
Thanks also to Fecci's for the after-match refreshments.
NEYLAND U10s 19
TENBY U10s 21
A sun drenched Neyland played host to Tenby U10s and provided us with both excellent rugby and per usual generous hospitality. Tenby captain for the day, Daniel Thomas, filled the role gallantly and led by example with good attacking runs and big-hit tackling.
The Seasiders took control through their forwards Daniel Gosnold, Alex Thomas, Tom Baker and the ever-impressive Andrew Cooke.
Neyland defended bravely, but eventually the visitors' pressure turned into points from an Andrew Cooke try which was gracefully converted by the cool-headed Ianto Griffiths.
The restart saw more of the same, with more passing from the Tenby backline. Ianto provided excellent service from the base of the scrum which released Lloyd Thomas to exploit the open spaces and, with one of his clever passes, he released centre Michael Robins, who weaved and jinked through a determined Neyland defence who just managed to prevent him scoring with a very competitive tackle.
The forwards recycled the ball and released Lloyd Thomas to score. Ianto obliged with the conversion.
Tenby continued to put pressure upon the All Blacks, but they utilised the kicking game very well and managed to kick out of their 22 straight down the throat of the Seasiders' fullback Lewis Hodgson, who, for the first time in this position, read the game very well and adapted well with good counter-attacks and, when required, manful defending.
Just before half-time, Lewis Canton exploded through on the blind-side, which disorganised the All Blacks defence.
The black and reds forwards created quick second phase ball which allowed Ianto to release Lloyd Thomas for his second try, which was converted by Mr. Griffiths to make it 21-0 at the interval.
After the break, three changes were made, with Sam Ormond, Denny Paxton and Joseph Richards coming on. All three players got straight in the thick of it and played their hearts out.
However, talk about a game of two halves. Neyland had obviously taken good advice from Mr. Bellerby in the interval and hit the Seasiders head on. Tenby found themselves pinned in their own 22 for the best part of the half.
Firstly, Daniel Goodrich, the Neyland centre, crashed over for their first try, followed by a powerful try by scrum-half John Power, with the final say also going to the All Blacks with a very impressive try by outside-half Patrick Bellerby.
All three conversions were attempted, but luckily for Tenby one hit the cross-bar and never managed to make it onto the score board.
Yet another game where all involved put in effort, commitment and skill to please the crowd, but most importantly to please themselves. Well done lads. Keep it up. You are putting Tenby back on the Pembrokeshire rugby map.
NEYLAND U9s 7
TENBY UTD U9s 1
The 'Vikings' from Tenby United travelled to play the Neyland 'All Blacks' and like their New Zealand counterparts they were quite awesome. They gave the Tenby boys a harsh lesson in powerful running and ripping balls out of the tackle.
Neyland notched up five tries without reply during the first half and used the boot to relieve pressure on a number of occasions: a tactic which isn't in the Mike Evans coaching manual.
The visitors were limited to only a few good runs from Robert Luly, Curtis Hurlow and Rob Fairlie. Philip Horsley, Loui Fecci and Daniel Robins tackled well, especially 'Loui the bear', who put in more tackles than any other player on the pitch. But too many times the Tenby boys didn't hold on to their opponents, allowing them to break through several tacklers.
The second half proved a much closer affair, of two tries to one in Neyland's favour, a strong burst from Cai Evans, taking over two All Blacks with him, to score wide out.
Neyland are by far the best team played to date and Tenby will have learned a lot from this match.
Apologies to Jimmy John, who over the last few weeks has been playing under the alias of Jimmy James - reporter's error!
Tenby squad: P. Horsley, R. Luly, R. Fairlie, L. James, J. John, J. Dennis, H. Thomas, C. Hurlow, L. Fecci, S. Turton, D. Robins, C. Evans, R. O'Neill, D. Griffin, H. Pritchard.
NEYLAND U12s nil TENBY SWIFTS U12s 45 pts
It has all started to come together for the Tenby squad. They have been training very hard all season and on Sunday they reaped the rewards of their hard work with an emphatic victory away at Neyland. Every team member deserves a mention for the effort they have put in and look to improve with every game.
Guto Griffiths at outside-half grabbed two well-taken tries and kicked well on the day, Luke Dedman showed strength to power over, Scott Helmich was a star in midfield and picked up five points, scrum-half Sam Baker scored from a lovely blind-side sprint five metres out and Rob Colley bagged a hat-trick of tries from the top shelf.
This was all about team work. The front row were too strong for Neyland, Mathew Watkins, Tom Griffiths and David Denton worked tirelessly in the boiler-room and the back row were all over the park. Henry Boot has become a very competent number eight, Joe Lewis had two very good runs and was unlucky not to score and Huw Evans is a real find in the 'Quinnell' mould.
Liam Watkins is improving with every game and his tackling is immense, Ben Griffiths showed good hands at centre and the two flyers, Simon Stanford and Jamie Robins, were let off the leash on a couple of occasions to wreak havoc in the Neyland defence.
Right wing Ryan Lewis was unlucky not to score in the second half as he was just held up a metre out. New boys Angelo Fecci and Aaron Goldsmith will be useful members of the Swifts and both had a good game.
The Swifts fielded: Rob Colley, Guto Griffiths, Sam Baker, Henry Boot, Mathew Watkins, Tom Griffiths, Luke Dedman, Joe Lewis, David Denton, Huw Evans, Liam Watkins, Ben Griffiths, Simon Stanford, Jamie Robins, Ryan Lewis, Angelo Fecci, Aaron Goldsmith, Scott Helmich.