Gorseinon 3 pts. Tenby United 10

Tom Lewis was the toast of his Coastal Cottages sponsored Tenby United team-mates and their hardy band of supporters on Saturday as they made the journey east to Gorseinon as last seasons division four west champions to face a side that finished a respectable mid-table in division three west last season and were already being spoken about as potentially one of the season's table-toppers.

As expected, this potentially very challenging match turned out to be just that and the hard working Tenby XV came away with an excellent victory as Tom Lewis, who came on early in the first half as a replacement for debutant Johnny Owen, claimed all of their 10 points.

Known to all his pals as 'Turbo', he gave the Seasiders the lead in a very even first half when he popped up to intercept a speculative floated Gorseinon pass and galloped over under the posts, before adding the extra points.

It proved to be the only score of a very competitive first half as Gorseinon tried hard to get points on the board, but with a newly structured back row of Richard Rossiter, Rob Tuttle and Laurens Brits covering every blade of grass and tackling superbly for the Seasiders, they were kept at bay and Tenby deservedly led 7-0 at half-time.

The gusty and rainy conditions gradually worsened as the second half got underway, but it did not prevent Gorseinon from eventually reducing the deficit with a penalty from outside-half Andrew Caldwell.

Despite this minor setback, the energetic front row of Johnny Palmer/Geoff Martin, Nicky Guymer and man-of-the-match Rob Clarke battled away against a very large home front row, ably supported by locks Wyndham Williams/Emori Katalau and Luke Dedman, who tirelessly carried out their scrummaging duties and never shirked a tackle. They also gave the home side a torrid time in the set-piece, stealing three strikes against the head.

As defences, aided by the squally weather, were prominent during a very competitive second half, the only other score came from the trusty right boot of Tom Lewis when he notched a penalty to help secure a deserved 10-3 Tenby success.

Not only playing in the higher division, the numerous personnel changes this season, most significant being livewire flanker Jason Ronowitz playing for Llanelli at Newport, Toby and Sam Smith turning out for Carmarthen Athletic against Llanharan, Lewis Davies trying his hand at Narberth, along with the missing trio of Johnny Lane, Gareth Edwards and Will Crockford, provided coach Emori Katalau with a tremendous challenge, but he successfully tackled the issues and motivated his team sufficiently, and wisely used his bench, to come away with the spoils.

A very good start to their campaign and it sets up the first home encounter at Heywood Lane tomorrow (Saturday) against Penclawdd, who also started with a comprehensive win against Pontarddulais

Tenby fielded: Dan Colley, Dai Meyrick, Jimmy Davies, Del Brace, Barrie John (Simon Stanford),  Johnny Owen (Tom Lewis), Dan Thomas, Rob Clark, Nicky Guymer (capt), Johnny Palmer (Geoff Martin), Wyndham Williams (Emori Katalau), Luke Dedman, Rob Tuttle, Laurens Brits, Richard Rossiter.