Local friends and rivals Laugharne RFC were the visitors to Heywood Lane on Saturday for a Division Three West match that Tenby needed to win if their pre-Christmas improvement in results was to continue. It was the visitors who started the stronger and from the kick-off began to put the Tenby defence under pressure and work the ball deep into the United's half. Continued pressure and some weak defending by the home team at crucial points saw the visitors open their account with a well-worked try that went unconverted. Tenby did not lie down. Indeed, this score seemed to spur them on and some good attacking rugby followed. Mark Heywood in the centre, getting better and better with every game, made a fine run in midfield to give Tenby a good attacking platform. This improved work-rate continued with some pick and drives by the forwards, with skipper Scott Payne, Wyndham Williams and Jessie James prominent. This effort was rewarded when Owen Thomas converted a penalty to close the visitors' lead to five points to three. Laugharne now began to press Tenby once again and worked the ball downfield, but as they drove over the line, home centre Arthur Maulio-Manigto managed to secure the ball as it came loose and averted another score, ensuring the United also received the put-in at the resultant scrum-five. Tenby then lost the services of their terrier-like scrum-half, Neil Duffy, to a yellow card for persistent offside and this meant the home team had to see out the half reduced to 14 men. During this period, Laugharne again pressed hard on the Tenby line and were initially denied a try after Jessie James and Gareth Edwards worked exceptionally well to hold up the ball and prevent it being grounded. The continued pressure finally told, however, and the visitors increased their lead with another try, which again went unconverted, leaving the score at 10-3 in their favour. With Duffy still in the sin-bin, Laugharne again tested Tenby's defence and they made the most of their one-man advantage by crossing the line. Again Tenby were spared further punishment as the visitors' kicker was off target once more with his conversion attempt. With Tenby back up to 15 men, they began to hit back at the visitors and worked the ball deep into their half with some good work by the forwards. Cleanly won lineout ball was worked out to the threequarters and this allowed Jimmy Davies to gain ground with a fine run, before offloading to Mark Heywood, who touched down for Tenby's first try. Owen Thomas was successful with the conversion to bring Tenby back within striking distance of their opponents as they reduced the deficit to 15-10 at half-time. After the break, Tenby continued as they had finished the first half by attacking hard and looking to move the ball in the visitors' half. An excellent break and run by Stuart Tyrie saw the hard-working back row man get his reward by scoring a try, which Owen Thomas was unable to convert, but it brought Tenby level at 15-all. Tenby lost another player to the sin-bin, and this time it was skipper Scott Payne who received a 10- minute rest for hands in at a ruck. The United, however, managed to contain the visitors during this period and prevented them from taking any advantage of the extra man and increasing their score. With Tenby back up to their full complement, it was the visitors' turn to lose a player to the bin as the referee ensured that his decisions were fairly and consistently applied to both sets of players. Tenby pressed hard during this period and tried to take advantage and extend their score, but to no avail. Moving into the final five minutes, the match looked destined to end in a draw, but continued pressure from the Laugharne pack saw the visitors crash over for an unconverted try in the dying minutes , to give them the spoils and the all- important three points. It seems that once again the Tenby team were unlucky in not securing a win and that the team's continued hard work and performance is still going unrewarded in terms of league points and position. Neil Machin and his staff will be hoping that this streak of bad luck has had its time and that the team will start to get the rub of the green that it deserves next weekend when they travel to play local league rivals, Pembroke Dock Quins. This is very much an eagerly-awaited fixture and one which all involved will want to win for a number of reasons. As many supporters as possible are encouraged to make the short journey down to the Bierspool ground to support the boys in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. Match sponsors for Saturday's game were Broadfield Caravan Park and BB's Restaurant, Simon Rowell, of Crossroads Garage, Begelly, and Scaffold 2000 Ltd. Ball sponsors were Mr. Mike Fry and Mr. Brian Goodwin. Their support and sponsorship is greatly appreciated by all at the club. Two T-bone steaks, kindly donated by J. V. Rowe & Sons, were also presented to the man-of-the- match, Neil Duffy. Tenby Fielded: Alex Watt (Tenby Auto Centre Car Sales), James Davies (Tenby Glass), Mark Heywood (N. D. Toy & Partners Ltd, Independent Financial Advisors and Mortgage Brokers), Arthur Maulio- Manigto (Anne and Jeremy Rossiter, of Londis Stores, Manorbier), Randell Watkins (W3 Designs, Affordable Web Design) Owen Thomas (Rossiters Funeral Directors of Tenby & District) Neil Duffy (Pam Pam restaurant, Tenby), Scott Payne, capt., (Lewis, Lewis & Co Solicitors), Mike Lewis (John Boot, of Lydstep), Mark Badham (Bay Tree Restaurant, Tenby), Wyndham Williams (Alan Jones, Tenby Utd. RFC chairman), Gareth Edwards (Rumbleway Caravan Park), Jessie James (Gavin and Dudley Scotcher, Capital Roasters Coffee Company), Stuart Tyrie (Mike Brace Home Maintenance Service), Harry Bolton (Neil Finlay Car Sales). Subs:Johnny Lane, Nicky Guymer, Sam Smith, Delwyn Brace.
