TENBY UNITED 27 pts

TREDEGAR 50

Try as they might, Tenby United were unable to end their National League division two swansong on a high note at Heywood Lane on Saturday as they slumped to a 50 points to 27 defeat at the hands of Tredegar.

With promotion and relegation issues signed, sealed and delivered, and therefore nothing riding on the outcome, both teams looked to end the season with a flourish of running rugby.

However, the Seasiders, with a makeshift front row, which included back row forward Adrian Chiffi at hooker and former Youth star Lou Brace packing down at prop, struggled to find a platform up front, which was evident in the fact that five of Tredegar's tries came from set-piece ball.

Although the sunshine and the televised FA Cup made for a lower than average crowd, the United looked to end their season on a positive note, with Aled Thomas opening their account with a penalty after Andy Deacon had driven into the heart of Tredegar's territory from the kick-off.

Thomas was off target with a second penalty, before making amends by adding the extras after a fluid linking move from the base of an attacking scrum sent wing Gavin Jones through under the posts.

With lock Justin Moody controlling the linesout and nippy scrum-half Gareth Pearson dictating behind, Tredegar began to gain a purchase on the game, using their pack's mobility and pace to recycle possession through phases to put the Seasiders under pressure.

The visitors reduced the arrears when quick ball from a close range scrum sent wing Daniel Morris over for a try, and fullback Kevin Rees goaled the conversion.

Back row trio of Deacon, Stuart Tyrie and Nicky Allen carried the ball well from the base to launch counter-attacks at Tredegar, but the visitors proved expert foragers at the breakdown, which allowed them to continually test the Tenby defence by bringing their pacy threes into play.

Pearson darted through from a five-metre tap penalty and Rees converted to put the visitors in front on the half-hour, but Tenby edged their noses ahead minutes later when outside-half Thomas sent centre Paul Luger storming through on an angle and then pouched the conversion points.

Wing Morris picked up his second try from a looping Tredegar attack, which Rees converted, but another Thomas penalty kept the Seasiders very much in touch at 20-21 at the break.

The change around saw Deacon replaced by Max Howells, the veteran forward taking over in the front row, with Brace moving to the number two berth and Chiffi switching to his more familiar place on the flank.

The visitors edged further in front in the opening stages of the second half when number eight Tony Edwards burrowed through from a close range scrum to pick up his 100th career try, but Rees was unable to add the conversion from out wide.

Tenby looked to counter from the restart, launching a running attack from deep, but some slipshod passing in midfield allowed Tredegar stand-off Gareth Carney to seize on a dropped pass and hare over from halfway to touch down under the posts.

Rees made it 33-20 in Tredegar's favour with the conversion.

Tenby hit right back when good work in the lineout by Lou Brace allowed the homesters to drive the visitors back, before Tyrie burst through to touch down.

Thomas slotted the conversion to reduce the arrears to just six points.

Playing to their strength up front, with Moody and fellow lock Carl Ore continuing to give them the platform at the linesout, Tredegar recycled possession through several phases to maintain a territorial advantage, but Tenby defended well, with Luger and co-centre Andrew John putting in some big hits in midfield and Thomas kicking well from hand to help stem the tide.

But Tenby could only keep up the Canute-like act for so long, centre Neil Lewis carving through to round off another fast threequarter attack with a try which Rees converted and then Edwards grabbed his second of the afternoon as the visitors set up another drive from a close range lineout.

Never allowing their heads to drop, Tenby worked hard in the loose and looked to run at Tredegar at every opportunity, but held on to the pass a little too long, often being tackled man and ball which allowed the visiting forwards to steal turnover and allow Pearson and Carney to exploit gaps behind the United's line.

Last word of the day went to Tredegar, with flanker Steve Evans grabbing his first league try for the visitors to put the 50 on the board.

Rees was unable to improve the scoreline, but it mattered little, with referee Mr. Huw David, of Bridgend, calling time on proceedings.

Tenby United fielded: Carl Broaders, Neil Truman (capt.), Paul Luger, Andrew John, Gavin Jones, Aled Thomas, Oliver Brace, Endaf Howells, Adrian Chiffi, Lou Brace, Justin Jones, Pat Nolan, Nicky Allen, Andy Deacon, Stuart Tyrie.