On a day when the windy conditions were obviously going to dominate play, Chevron-sponsored Tenby United put together a near perfect display to beat high-flying Pontarddulais at Heywood Lane and maintain their own push for promotion. With the victory, thanks must also go to Russ Millns, Peter 'Toe' James and Keith Walker who spent two hours in the morning getting rid of the surface water that had gathered, ensuring that when Pontarddulais and referee Colin Kirkhouse arrived, they would have no excuse not to play the game. Kicking-off with the wind very much at their backs, Tenby pinned the visitors deep in their own half and tested their defence to breaking point, with driving runs off the base of the scrum by Timoci Kaumaitotoya, into the number 10 channel, very much the order of the day. Their persistence and patience eventually paid dividends, on the back of a huge touch-finder by Lewis that took play from the Tenby 10-metre line down to the Pontarddulais five-metre line, when the visitors were forced to offend, in an attempt to slow the ball down in an attacking ruck, and scrum-half Tom Lewis neatly slotted the penalty to deservedly put the United three points up. The two sides vainly tried to play open rugby, but the windy conditions and stout defending brought any attempt to get the ball out wide to a rapid halt. One solid tackle by livewire flanker Harry Bolton, back to his best form of the season, typified how to defend when the opposition tried to put an attack together. Playing with the wind in their favour, Tenby were also guilty of attempting to put together some rather complicated threequarter movements, with the gusty conditions punishing any attempted 'floated passes' and, aided by some resolute defending by a very committed visiting defence, the game became bogged down. Resorting to kicking to gain territory and advantage, Tenby coaxed Pontarddulais into an offside position and Lewis doubled the lead to six points with a well-struck penalty. Lack of possession, and attempted kicks that were drifting back on the wind, was starting to frustrate the visiting side and the penalty count against them began to mount as they tried to take full advantage of the gain line, both at the ruck and maul situation, as well creeping perilously close to the offside line when defending any passing movement put together by Tenby. Taking full advantage of the wind, these offences were heavily capitalised on by Lewis, who fired off some booming penalty kicks that went way into the Pontarddulais 22. The home forwards were also getting in on the act, with storming runs by Emori Katalau, Timoci Kaumaitotoya, Ifan Davies and Mark Brace testing the visitors' defence, while backs Michael Georgiau, Dan Colley, Arthur M-M, Mark Heywood, Jimmy Davies and Steve Ireland combined well as Tenby tried to take full advantage of the conditions prior to having to face them in the second half. Right on cue, a sustained attack involving Arthur M-M and Mark Heywood released Ifan Davies into space, with Heywood looping round to take the return pass and crash over wide out. Despite the tricky kicking conditions, Tom Lewis fired over the conversion from the touchline and Tenby went into the half-time huddle deservedly leading 13-0. Pontarddulais obviously had a roasting from their coach at half-time as they flew into Tenby from the restart, but their momentum was halted when over- eagerness at the breakdown on the United line gave Lewis his first taste of what it was like playing against the wind, with his touch-finder spiralling wickedly into touch with only a few yards advantage gained. Play became camped deep in the Tenby 22, with the visitors determined to get back into the game with a score, but some tremendous tackling by the back row trio of Harry Bolton, Timoci Kaumaitotoya and Ifan Davies, as well as by half-backs Steve Ireland and Tom Lewis, stopped any attempt dead in its tracks. Lewis gave his opposite number, Ian Bell, a torrid afternoon as he snapped at his heels and disrupted any attempt to develop moves from the base of the scrum. Harry Bolton and Kaumaitotoya were also prominent in turning defence into attack, and they combined well to create an attacking move from deep in their 22, allowing Steve Ireland to release winger Dan Colley with a superbly timed and directed pass, which ended when the speedy Colley was halted only yards from the Pontarddulais line. Next it was fullback Mikey Georgiau, along with Colley and Ireland, who capitalised on a turnover created when Emori Katalau very cleverly stole the ball at the breakdown, and quick ball transfer by scrum-half Lewis allowed the pair to take play deep into the Pontarddulais 22. The attacking threat was continued, only for a would-be scoring pass from centre Heywood to Colley to drift into touch on the wind. Tenby were now well into their stride, defending and tackling like demons and creating attacking platforms to release their speedy backs, and Pontarddulais were getting a right lesson in how to play the windy conditions as the home side also increased the pace of the game. Nicky Guymer replaced Mark Brace as Tenby maintained the pressure, allowing Pontarddulais absolutely no time to construct anything threatening in terms of an attacking platform, and frustration began to creep into their play, under the continual bombardment of tackling being put in by the entire Tenby team. As soon as one of their attacks had been halted, it was their turn to defend as Tenby quickly switched play to the Pontarddulais half, with forwards and backs combining well with short, sharp inter-passing bouts that tested their resilience when it came to tackling. Half-backs Lewis and Ireland combined well to release Heywood on a wide arcing run and his pass inside to winger Jimmy Davies ended with Davies being held-up on the Pontarddulais line. Next it was Davies, Arthur M-M, Colley, Ireland and Mark Heywood who combined well to create a scoring opportunity, but the final crucial pass drifted forward on the wind. Not to be downhearted by this lost opportunity, Tenby maintained the pressure and a slick move to the left corner was quickly followed by a switch of play to the opposite corner, with the move, that had involved at least 10 Tenby players, ending with wing Jimmy Davies galloping over wide out. The wind proved too much of an obstacle to Lewis as the conversion hung in the breeze and the scores stayed on 18-0. Intent on at least coming away with a score, Pontarddulais put together a series of attacks, which the home defence, following examples set by hard-working flanker Bolton, Kaumaitotoya, Wyndham Williams, props Ben Cray and Lee Tucker along with replacement hooker Guymer, kept at bay. Burly Johnny Lane joined the fray, replacing fellow forward Wyndham Williams, and with Ben Cray switching to pack down alongside Katalau in the second row, Lane combined with Tucker and Guymer to form a formidable front row trio. An injury to scrum-half Lewis, who is relishing playing in the position he occupied for much of his junior rugby with the Swifts, saw Rhys Thomas take the field as Tenby went back to defensive duties as Pontarddulais repeatedly attempted to break through their dogged ranks and at least register a score. One crunching tackle put in by lock Emori Katalau, as he superbly lined-up the Pontarddulais number 10 Andrew Stone, must have brought back fond memories to the former Fijian captain of the days when he played in the back row for his country, and as always, it was carried out with a smile on his face! With the extra bulk at forward, with replacements Guymer and Lane putting in their fair share of grunt, along with the rest of the pack, Pontarddulais were now hard pressed to secure any worthwhile possession from the set-piece, and steals at the lineout by Katalau, Davies and Kaumaitotoya added to their woes and frustration. Despite their efforts, and the advantage of the strengthening wind, Pontarddulais went into the final 10 minutes knowing that whatever they managed to put together would be met by a resolute home defence, while at the same time they needed to remember their defensive duties as Tenby took every opportunity to quickly turn defence into attack. Tackles continued to fly in and attacks, involving forwards Johnny Lane, Ben Cray, Harry Bolton, Lee Tucker, Ifan Davies, Emori Katalau and Timoci Kaumaitotoya, supporting backs Michael Georgiau, Dan Colley, Arthur M-M, Mark Heywood, Jimmy Davies, Steve Ireland and Rhys Thomas, kept Pontarddulais on the backfoot and with referee Kirkhouse, who had an excellent game, blowing for time, it was back to the changing room and a deserved hot shower for both sides. Coaches Davies and Katalau were both well pleased with the commitment and determination shown by Tenby throughout the 80 minutes in very testing conditions, and with Hendy being beaten by neighbours Crymych, aspirations of promotion are high and will be verified if the WRU ever get their league table correct, so we all know what the correct positions are. This game neatly sets the scene for the return away fixture against local rivals Pembroke tomorrow (Saturday), in what will undoubtedly be a well- contested encounter as Tenby aim for the double, as well as maintaining their momentum and quest for crucial league points. Tenby fielded: Michael Georgiau, Dan Colley, Arthur M-M, Mark Heywood, Jimmy Davies, Steve Ireland, Tom Lewis (Rhys Thomas), Lee Tucker, Mark Brace (Nicky Guymer), Ben Cray, Wyndham Williams (Johnny Lane), Emori Katalau, Harry Bolton, Timoci Kaumaitotoya, Ifan Davies. Sub not used - Dai Meyrick
