TENBY SWIFTS U10s 63 pts PEMBROKE U10s 0
Tenby played host last Sunday to Pembroke RFC for yet another feast of junior rugby. The Under 10s took to the field in a positive mood and were eager to impress, and impress is exactly what they did.
Birthday boy Alex Thomas took the captaincy for the day and played his heart out. Massive tackles and charging runs were the order of his special day. This brought on the might of the other Tenby forwards, with Andrew Cooke, as per usual, dominant in turnover ball situations, closely followed by powerful play from Denny Paxton, Daniel Thomas and Sam Ormond, who is finding more confidence with every game.
The Seasiders mirrored their lessons from the training ground and showed the crowd what they can do. Pembroke from the first whistle were under immense pressure from the home side, but never let their heads drop. Their tackling was fierce, but fair, and let the Tenby squad realise they had a game on their hands.
The ball handling skills seemed to click with Tenby who managed to pass the ball around during attacking phases to release the speed merchants such as Lloyd Thomas, Joseph Richards, Ianto Griffiths and the mighty Michael Robins.
Of all the games Tenby have played to date, this one seemed to introduce some long-awaited support play. Whenever the attack was flawed by impressive Pembroke defence, the support players of the red and black jerseys regained the momentum for the likes of Lewis Canton to exploit his speed and Henry Lawrence to unleash his strength on the opposition.
As the years go on, the rules change to assist the young players to adopt new skills. One such rule is kicking from hand out of your own 22. This was a skill we as coaches frowned upon until the passing element of their game showed promise.
Their passing game is now in full flight, so the introduction of the clearance kick was a planned affair for this match. Only utilised once by Lloyd Thomas, but so clinically done. The up-and-under was chased by the forward division, the ball was recycled and passed to the strongest man on the field, Lewis Davies, to drag threequarters of the opposition along with him to the try line.
As all rugby fans know, the up-and-under must be taken by the fullback. Tenby's old warrior Lewis Hodgson has adapted well to this position and took a lovely high ball from a Pembroke clearance, followed by an impressive charge down field, only to be denied a try by some good defence.
On the defence note, all players in the Seasider shirts tackled better then ever before, one in particular being young Mr. Robins. Well done Michael.
This was probably the best 30 minutes of rugby this young squad have produced.
Their support play has developed in all areas. The maul gained hard yards, the ruck seemed more organised, the handling skills were more natural and the defence was such that it gained them a clean sheet. Final score 63-0.
Well done to both sides. It was an excellent game of spirited rugby.
As for Tenby, keep it coming lads. The training ground may seem boring to some, but look at the results.
One last note must go to the conversion kickers, Ianto and Lloyd. Both are still on a one hundred percent success rate this season.
Try scorers: Joseph Richards, Lloyd Thomas, Lewis Davies, Andrew Cooke, Michael Robins.
PS. What a referee! Such talent.
TENBY U9s 5 pts
PEMBROKE U9s 5
Tenby United Under 9s entertained Pembroke at Heywood Lane last Sunday in an exciting game which ended a draw, five tries each.
The visitors opened the scoring after a powerful run down the wing, but Tenby quickly got on level terms when Philip Horsley put Rob Fairlie in to space for him to bulldoze over.
Curtis Hurlow was next on the scoresheet for the Vikings, after good passing from Jimmy John and Luke James had put him clear inside his own half to out-sprint the visiting defence.
Tenby then had to withstand a long period of Scarlet pressure, with excellent tackling from Louis Fecci, Sam Turton, Huw Thomas and new debutant Harry Owen. Owen has given the Vikings a new dimension with his hunger for the ball and outstanding pace.
However, not even this could prevent Pembroke from scoring twice more before the interval.
Minutes before half-time Daniel Robins scored his now usual try, after Rob Luly, Joe Dennis and Dylan Griffin contrived to put him in at the corner.
The robust Scarlets scored twice during the early part of the second-half, but as time was running out, Tenby staged a remarkable comeback. Henry Pritchard gave a scoring pass to Fairlie to notch his second of the game, and Philip Horsley scored at the death after sterling work by Ryan O'Neill, Owen and Thomas.
Tenby Vikings: L. Fecci, P. Horsley, H. Owen, R. Luly, L. James, R. Fairlie, S. Turton, H. Pritchard, J. Dennis, R. O'Neill, J. John, D. Griffin, C. Hurlow, H. Thomas, D. Robins.