TENBY UTD U9s 8 tries WREXHAM U9s 4
Wrexham Under 9s paid a visit to Heywood Lane last Saturday, during their mini tour of Tenby and Narberth.
The large supportive crowd was treated to an entertaining match, which was well refereed by Mike Evans.
The home side got off to a brilliant start, scoring in the first minute from a typical touchline run by Harry Owen. Cairan Broomhead grabbed their second after a good passing movement between Phil Horsley, Daniel Robins and Curtis Hurlow.
Wrexham hit back with a similar try, before Hurlow rounded off another good move, this time involving Loui Fecci, Alex Heesom and Ross Edwards.
After a number of charging runs from Jimmy John, Cai Evans and Jordan Carter, it was finally Robert Fairlie who barged his way over.
Tenby finished the half as they began it, with a try from Owen, who outstripped the visiting defence to score in the corner.
The second half was a much closer affair, with both sides scoring three tries each. For the red and blacks, Luke James, Ryan O'Neill, Ieuan Williams and newcomer Rhys Lewis were all prominent in the loose.
However, Wrexham, who matched Tenby in most departments in the second period, just couldn't cope with the speed of Curtis Hurlow, Phil Horsley or Harry Owen. It was the latter pair who collected the Seasiders' last tries, Horsley scoring from a 30-yard run and Owen weaving his way over for the final two tries.
Tenby: C. Evans, L. Fecci, J. John, L. James, R. O'Neill, C. Hurlow, A. Heesmon, P. Horsley, R. Lewis, H. Owen, R. Fairlie, C. Broomhead, D. Robins, I. Williams, R. Edwards, J. Carter.
TENBY UNITED U13s 5 pts PEMBROKE U13s 29
Finals Day at Haverfordwest saw everyone basking in sunshine, although a strengthening breeze did not make for ideal conditions.
Tenby U13s took the field against a strong Pembroke side.
Tenby kicked off and Pembroke enjoyed some early possession.
Tenby suffered an early casualty, when David Saunders was on the end of a particularly heavy tackle and had to be carried from the field to receive medical attention - a sad start for Tenby, who wish David a speedy recovery.
Pembroke opened the scoring with a try wide on the Tenby right, with weak tackling conspiring to see Pembroke in.
Tenby responded with a series of drives, with the Colley boys and Rob Clark to the fore.
However, the young Seasiders were creating problems for themselves with handling errors and indiscipline, and Pembroke were pressurising their counterparts in every phase.
Tenby set up some good driving play, but the Pembroke defence held and managed another score themselves, converted off the post with Tenby a little dispirited at this stage.
This made the half-time score Tenby 0 Pembroke 12.
Tenby opened the second half with purpose and began to find some rhythm. Driving play, with Robbie Tuttle and Dan Colley prominent, saw Tenby establish good field position and finally James Davies ploughed over for a desrvedscore, Oliver missed with the conversion attempt.
Tenby's joy was shortlived, with Pembroke returning to the offensive and producing a score from an overlap on the Tenby left. Tenby's heads went down and Pembroke, running strongly, capitalised on their mistakes and scored again, the try going unconverted.
Tenby did manage to break the stranglehold Pembroke had exerted up front, with the forwards working hard, but individuals running head down away from support enabled resolute and organised defence from Pembroke to hold out as they finished worthy winners.
Tenby squad: Rob Clark, Rob Colley, Jack Lawrence; Ieuan Rowell, James Dick, James Davies, Paul Brooks, Robbie Tuttle, Sam Foster, Oli Morgan, Dan Colley (capt), Bobby Briers, Matthew Fleming, Jack Bevan, David Saunders, Josh Bevan, Danny Harries, Rob Whitfield, Ashley Murdoch, Henry Boot, Stephan Paxton.
TENBY U14s 19 pts.
PEMBROKE U14s 27
Bank Holiday Sunday saw Tenby U14s take on their counterparts Pembroke at Haverfordwest RFC on a glorious sunny day.
In front of a capacity crowd of 600 people, they took on Pembroke who have only lost once in the last three years.
From the kick-off, Tenby took the game straight to Pembroke with a try from scrum-half Rees Thomas, who broke on the blind side and smashed his way through a number of tackles to get to the try line. Sadly his try was unconverted.
Tenby should have scored straight from the restart when following quick ruck ball, Stevie H dummied his way through on the blind, but was just held up over the line.
But then Pembroke hit back with two well-worked tries created from overlaps. They went unconverted.
Just before half-time, Ben-Field Thomas came on a great angle and sliced through the Pembroke defence to score a wonderful try which was converted by Adam Ball, leaving the score at half-time 12-10 to Tenby.
With Tenby kicking off the second half, Lloyd Wilson took the initiative to score after good clearing out by Aaron Sutton, Joe Smith and Duncan Meacher. Adam Ball kicked an excellent touchline conversion for Tenby to lead 19-10.
Tenby were now dominating the game and were particularly impressive in the linesout, with Johnny Walker throwing in to Nick Drewitt and Adam Ball and also Adam Hughes, who was outstanding at the tail.
Rees-Thomas was also outstanding at scrum-half, and hopefully caught the eye of the county selectors, as was Richard Williams, who was a force in the centre, breaking through tackles and solid in defence; he has a big future in the game.
The back three, Barry John, Johnzi Lewis and Gareth Merriman, who had his first game at fullback, all had excellent games for their club.
With game at 19-10 to Tenby with four minutes to go, Pembroke were awarded a dubious penalty. With the boys questioning it, Pembroke took a quick tap in Tenby's 22 and county centre Neil Williams scored an unconverted try in the corner to make the score 19-15.
Two minutes later, Tenby cleared their lines. It appeared that Pembroke knocked on, but this was unnoticed by the referee, and burly prop Crocker scored in the corner to make it 20-19, which left Tenby shattered.
With time nearly up, Pembroke came back and scored under the posts, which was converted, to make the final score 27-19.
Tenby did not deserve to lose after dominating most of the game. They can take heart from their performance, however, against a very strong Pembroke side. In fact, Tenby have lost only two games all season, including games outside the county against the likes of Llandovery, Ystalyfera, Furnace and Felinfoel.
John and Chris would like to thank all the boys for their hard work on and off the pitch, and parents and friends for all support in the season, and hope to see them all at presentation night in June.
TENBY SWIFTS U11s 14 pts. WHITLAND U11s 14
This cup final played at Haverfordwest last Sunday must rank as one of the most exciting, enthralling and exhilarating matches ever played at this level. These two teams have vied for supremacy since they ever donned their rugby kit and this latest chapter in the saga proved yet again that they are evenly matched skilful teams in which each individual plays an heroic role.
Tenby had prepared well for this match, as had their Whitland counterparts. Each side knew the other's strengths and it was obvious that tactics had been devised to combat them. The free scoring Tenby midfield was stifled by the Whitland defence and the much vaunted Whitland rucking was halted by a superb display from the Tenby pack.
From the kick-off, Tenby applied early pressure, but could not breach the well-drilled Whitland wall. Against the run of play, Whitland attacked down the Tenby flank to score in the corner and convert the try.
Tenby fought back and again pressurised the Whitland line, only for Whitland to break the siege and put Tenby under similar pressure. The game ebbed and flowed in this fashion, with bone crunching tackles being made, fearsome rucking taking place and great handling skills being demonstrated, even in the heat of battle.
It was Whitland, however, who were to increase their lead just before half-time with another converted try.
So, Tenby at the interval were 14 points down with it all to do. Lesser sides at this point would have dropped their heads and rolled over. Tenby were having none of it. They steeled themselves to come back and strained every sinew and muscle to produce a sterling display in the second half.
Captain Jamie Williams crossed for a fine try which was converted by Patrick Roberts and five minutes from time Matthew Davies crossed in the corner. The pressure kick to equal the score was coolly slotted by Roberts.
Scrum-half Kiefer Thomson provided a lightning service out of the scrum and made some darting runs in broken play.
Toby Smith did not get his customary tries and had been earmarked for special attention in the centre, while James Canton made some lively contributions from his limited opportunities on the wing.
David McDermott made two strong runs when he came on to the wing in the second half and almost got a winner with seconds ticking away on the clock.
The forwards were immense. The mobile front row of Yannic Parker, Joseff Morris and Jack Baker showed up well in the loose and together with Oliver Goldwait, Robert Jones and Patrick Roberts rucked like junior All Blacks.
The Whitland pack was much heavier and taller, but the more athletic Tenby forwards ran them off the park and proved that lean muscle strength is more effective than sheer bulk.
At the end of full-time, with the scores at 14 points apiece, we went into extra-time of five minutes each way on a sudden death basis.
It would have been a cruel end to either team if a score had come at this stage and it was heart-stopping stuff for the partisan supporters.
Right at the death Tenby looked as if they were about to administer the coup de gras when Matthew Davies burst down the touchline, but he was adjudged by the referee to have put a foot in and that was that.
The final whistle shrilled, and the two exhausted teams, relieved supporters parents and coaches accepted what in all the circumstances was the best result - it could not have been scripted that way - a draw. Both teams are therefore winners of the trophy and will share it for the forthcoming year.
All previous meetings between these two outstanding teams have been close, with the earlier meeting in January also ending in a draw.
The future of Pembrokeshire rugby looks rosy if these players continue in their development and display the skills that so entertained the large and appreciative crowd at this final.
Tenby have therefore completed an amazing undefeated campaign and can now look forward to a well-deserved summer break.