Tenby United travelled to Pontyberem on Tuesday evening without the core of their first team, which gave the chance to members of the youth team to step up a level and gain experience against the league high-flyers.
With a total of seven youth players taking the leap into senior rugby for the first time, including Harry Bolton and Nicky Guymer, and a cup final firmly in the minds of all at Tenby, a win in this fixture was always going to be doubtful, but many positives can be drawn.
Unfortunately, one of the senior players who showed up, Sion Brace, took a serious knock to his shoulder early on, with team manager, Chris Williams, stating: "He's very doubtful for the cup final."
All things considered, the Tenby players did hold their own in the opening period against the champions, and there was a welcome return for outside-half Tommy Lewis, who is back on permit from Pembroke Dock.
Pontyberem were slow to get going under the floodlights, but managed to score a try four minutes into injury time in the first half to give them a firm and well deserved 17-point cushion going into the interval.
Yet again in the second half United managed to keep the floodgates closed against a team that has been so impressive this season - that is until the final 10 minutes.
Manager Chris Williams blamed the three tries they conceded in the closing stages on tired legs and inexperience, but also admitted that one of the tries Pontyberem scored was excellent. It meant that the scoreline at the full-time whistle was a little demoralising and perhaps did not truly reflect the brave efforts put in by the young United side.
Tenby have two games left this season, a mid-week league ficture against Maesteg at home and the clmax to the season, the Pembrokeshire Cup Final against Fishguard at Whitland next Wednesday, May 14.