Keen to get their league programme back on course, a Tenby side, bolstered by two Narberth players made available as part of the WRU regionalisation initiative, were keen to get the double over a Hendy side wallowing near the foot of division three west of the National League.

Straight from the kick-off the home side made their intentions clear, with Darren Rees fielding a kick through and linking quickly with Gavin Brace and flanker Andrew Dennis to take play deep into Hendy territory. This initial attack was foiled by a desperate visitors defence, who were again tested when Gavin Brace sliced through, only to see his pass to a supporting Tenby player knocked on.

Hendy responded with a high up-and-under which was expertly fielded by fullback Rees who this time linked with the straight-running Wayne Jones and Neil Truman, the move again being thwarted by a knock on.

This continual pressure and desire to run and test the Hendy defence eventually paid dividends when the Tenby half-backs combined to send centres Jones and Truman free, Truman selling an outrageous dummy to canter over under the posts. With a successful conversion by Darren Rees, the large crowd settled down to an afternoon of running rugby.

Employing yet another high up-and-under, a tactic that turned out to be their main (and only worthwhile) attacking ploy, Hendy created a situation where Tenby were forced to kill the ball at a ruck, but Paul Rees fired the resulting penalty wide.

On the 15-minute mark, Tenby extended their lead when slick handling by the threes ended with the pacy Dan Shooter drawing the last line of defence to send Wayne Smith over for an excellent try, which went unconverted.

Considering the blistering start and the slick handling by both backs and forwards, the game entered a quiet period, with the away side plugging away at a well organised Tenby defence, but they lacked any pace and cohesion to capitalise on any possession they managed to secure.

In fact, it was the home side that threatened to trouble the scores next when livewire hooker Craig Hawkins sliced through the Hendy defence, only to see the move peter out with the visitors being penalised for killing the ball at the breakdown. Darren Rees increased to lead to 15 points from the resulting kick.

A take against the head set up a situation for the Tenby half-backs to stretch the visitors' defence yet again, with slick handling between Davies and Brace releasing the centres who combined well to put Dan Shooter clear for a try, converted by Rees, and a 22-point half-time lead.

Tenby started the second half as they finished the first, with a stream of quick possession from a well organised forward unit providing a platform for their in form backs to go through their moves.

A steal by the impressive Andrew Dennis gave Lee Tucker the opportunity to make some hard yards, putting the supporting Andrew Davies over for a try, again converted by Rees.

Dennis and his back row partners were first to every breakdown and from the next phase he made ground deep into Hendy territory linking with supporting players, only to see the visitors scramble the ball into touch. The hard-working Dennis was quickly again in the picture with a scintillating length of field run, ending with half-backs Davies and Brace combing to put Brace over for a try, converted by Rees.

Coach Gareth Thomas was obviously satisfied at this point and brought on all his replacements to join in with the post-seasonal festivities romp and the next score was somewhat controversial. Excellent quick possession was capitalised upon by the threequarters who swept the length of the field, only to see centre Truman stopped while in the act of going over under the sticks by a very high tackle. The referee stopped play and eventually awarded a penalty try, added to by Darren Rees.

Andrew Dennis was again in action from the restart with another length of field sprint, only to ignore his supporting players and get grounded just short of the try line.

Hendy failed to clear from the resulting scrum and Darren Rees, linking with Dan Shooter, freed captain Sion Brace to score his second try wide out.

With Rees failing to add the extras, Tenby were content to play out the remainder of the game trying to reach the half century, while at the same time preventing Hendy from scoring.

Accepting that Hendy were a very average side with limited attacking ideas, and absolutely no pace at all, this was an encouraging start to 2004 for the Seasiders and Gareth Thomas and his team will be well pleased with the performance.

Against similar sides, earlier in the campaign, with ample opportunities to run the ball on many occasions, chances were not taken and they scrambled a win (or even lost the match). This time the initiative was seized straight from the off and with one or two rare exceptions, sensible attacking moves were tried from all over the park and with good support for the ball carrier the tries materialised.

Trimsaran away next week will be the test to see if the flair and patience, admirably shown against Hendy, is remembered and replicated.

Silcox Coaches sponsored the match. The match ball sponsors were Wyn Griffiths and Mike Rossiter. Man-of-the-match award donated by J. V. Rowe and Sons. Mascot for the day was Phillip Horsley.

Tenby: Darren Rees, Dan Shooter, Neil Truman, Wayne Jones (Mark Stevens), Gavin Brace, Sion Brace (capt.), Andrew Davies, Scott Payne (Mark Brace), Craig Hawkins (Richard Rossiter), Chris James (Jeremy Rossiter), Andrew Dennis, Anthony Griffiths (James Caine), Nicky Allen.