Tenby United 20 pts Trimsaran 5
Tenby United extended their winning league run to 15 victories as they proved too strong for a spirited Trimsaran team at Heywood Lane on Tuesday evening.
The damp and misty evening was not conducive to a Tenby side that has scored far more tries than any other team in the league. On Tuesday they had to be content with just two tries, both scored by Tom Lewis, who also added both conversions and kicked two penalties.
The Trimsaran try was scored by outside-half, Lee Bates, running unchallenged from the halfway line. By coincidence, the game was refereed by the same referee that officiated between them at Trimsaran, Colin Phillips, of Cardigan.
Talking point. With little time left at the end of the first half, Tenby were awarded four consecutive penalties for scrummaging offences close to the Trimsaran try line. Most spectators could not understand why Tenby captain, Nick Guymer, opted for a quick tap after the fourth penalty. Why didn't he go for another scrum and, hopefully, if Trimsaran offended again, be awarded a penalty try?
Nicky, however, was not given that choice. If he hadn't chosen a penalty instead of a scrum, the referee would have blown for half-time. In law, the referee can blow for half-time before a scrum, but not before a penalty. Nick took the right option.
Another question, though: why weren't Tenby given a penalty try after the second, third or fourth penalty?
After playing the bottom three clubs in the league in recent games, Tenby go on Saturday to play Llanybydder. This will be a far sterner test, but they can take a great deal of positives from recent games. The set-piece play is very strong. Turbo controls affairs and Toby is a match-winner. Harry is back, as are Johnny Lane and Gareth Nock from playing rugby in Texas and Dan Colley is back from his prolonged skiing holiday. Mark Heywood is also available for three of the remaining matches.
A major positive is the fact that, with 14 men for half the match, the United comfortably beat a Quins team that, the previous week, should have beaten promotion rivals, Amman. Victory at Llanybydder will go a long way to securing promotion.