When it comes to dramatic finales, a Hollywood scriptwriter would find it difficult to draft a climax as nail-biting as witnessed at Heywood Lane on Saturday.

Speaking after the game, a relieved but beaming Tenby coach, Gareth Thomas, said that he never doubted the Seasiders would win this National League division four (west) clash with Kenfig Hill.

However, the hardy band of United fans who braved the wintry weather were certainly less optimistic when the Mules snatched the lead in the dying minutes of proper time with a snap drop goal from pivot Nick John.

One would have expected Tenby's heads to have dropped after that, especially as they had tenaciously clung on to a slender 5-3 lead for most of the second half, but in fact the Seasiders rose to the occasion, bagging a scintillating injury time try to secure the spoils by 10 points to six.

It may not have been a pretty game up to this point, with both sides embroiled in a close-order battle for possession up front, but Tenby's winning touchdown was pure champagne rugby as they moved the ball at pace from right to left, recycled and then spun possession back out along the line to the right to send wing Jonathan Dodd over in the Knowling Mead corner.

Tenby rode their luck a little, with John missing several penalties for Kenfig Hill, but they deserved their win on commitment alone, particularly in the last quarter when the Mules launched a series of attacks on the United line.

Although Tenby stand-off Bleddyn Evans missed an early penalty, it was very much one-way traffic in the opening few minutes when Kenfig Hill used their bulkier hard-hitting pack to try and batter their way through.

However, the Tenby defence was not found wanting, with 110 per cent commitment in the contact allowing the Seasiders to absorb the pressure and turn the tide.

While Kenfig Hill had two towering locks in the shape of John Collier and Steve Parry, it failed to worry the United, with young Chris James, Nicky Allen and Paul Broaders dominating the linesout to provide the platform for Tenby to launch a series of sorties and keep the visitors penned in their own territory.

Powerhouse Tenby centre Paul Luger was reliable as ever in attack and defence, but paid the price for a bone-crunching tackle early on when he was forced to leave the field, to be replaced by Neil Powling.

It resulted in the United reshuffling their threequarter line, with Sion Brace moving into the centre and Darren Rees switching to the fullback berth to allow Powling to slot in on the wing.

As stubborn as their nickname, the Mules also defended superbly, but a superb kick from Tenby pivot Evans provided the impetus to break the stalemate approaching the half-hour mark.

Evans and half-back partner Dylan Lawrence were an influential pairing, with Lawrence varying his options wisely and Evans kicking well from hand to keep Kenfig Hill on the back foot.

One such kick from the stand-off gained useful field position just inside the Mules' 22.

Tenby stole the ensuing lineout, with number eight Justin Richards peeling off the back in trademark fashion to drive over and touch down for an unconverted try.

With John missing two penalties in quick succession, that was how things remained at the break, despite the industry of both teams.

John reduced the arrears to two points after the change around with a successful penalty.

Both teams continued to probe each other's defences in the third quarter, with United fullback Rees covering well and looking to launch attacks from deep at every opportunity.

Tenby's threequarter line was just as inventive, with Neil Truman, Sion Brace and Jonathan Dodd varying their attacking options to keep the United going forward.

Tenby lost the services of hard-working skipper Richard Rossiter midway through the half, but replacement hooker Dafydd Lewis quickly made his mark, winning a useful supply of ball off the floor for the Seasiders, while props Lee Tucker and Dai Balkwill grafted away in typical fashion.

Broaders, Allen and James continued to shine alongside boilerhouse colleagues Richards and Anthony Griffiths to put pressure on the gain line, but the Seasiders were unable to find the required chink in the Mules' armour to go the final furlong.

Both sides were also hampered in their efforts by slipshod handling and unforced errors, which made for gruelling times up front.

Evans just shaved the posts with an attempted drop goal, before Tenby were forced to replace Richards with Nick Roch.

Another super kick from Evans, aided by a fortuitous bounce, again gained the United good field position in Mules territory, but, despite a series of rolling mauls, the homesters were unable to break through.

Having weathered the storm, Kenfig Hill launched a series of counter-attacks going into the final quarter, one move down the right behind halted by a superb cover tackle on Gareth Davies by Brace.

Unfortunately, the Mules' wing man came off badly from the clattering tackle, having to be stretchered from the field with a dislocated knee.

Kenfig Hill continued their battering attacking in the closing stages, trying to carve their way through on the blind side before recycling out open for centres Darwell Bumell and skipper Derwyn Rees to try and crash through, but the tigerish Tenby defence held resolute.

However, a series of rolling drives gained them a foothold in Tenby's 22, with John snatching the lead on full-time with his well-timed drop goal, before a quick tap penalty allowed the Seasiders to build up to Dodds's victory-sealing try at the death.

Tenby hit the road tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel east to take on Brynamman.

Tenby fielded: Sion Brace, Jonathan Dodd, Neil Truman, Paul Luger, Darren Rees, Bleddyn Evans, Dylan Lawrence, Lee Tucker, Richard Rossiter (capt.), Dai Balkwill, Gareth James, Paul Broaders, Nicky Allen, Anthony Griffiths, Justin Richards.