For the second week running, Tenby United Youth team, sponsored by PRL Plant Hire, faced a side in the County Cup, and, in an attempt to avoid potential fixture congestion, both teams had agreed to treat the match as a double-header, playing not only for a place in the cup semi-final, but also for league points. With the majority of their players missing from last week returning, Tenby fielded a more conventional XV against a strong Narberth outfit, who kicked off with the windy conditions in their favour. In an attempt to stamp their authority on the match from the outset, Tenby put together a string of attacking moves, but a dogged home defence kept them at bay until the 20th minute when Adam Ball was successful with a 35-metre penalty kick. A plentiful supply of possession from the lineout, via their own put in, and approximately 50 per cent of Narberth ball, secured by Luke Dedman and Henry Boot, ensured that Tenby had plenty of quick ball and the backs were well supported by their fellow forwards, with hooker Lyndon Griffiths leading the way and having his best game of the season. The remainder of the half saw Narberth, through the skilful Gareth Salter, test the Tenby defence to the full and Dan Colley brought off a string of try- saving tackles to keep the score to 3-0 at half- time. The only change employed at the break saw hard- working open-side flanker Nick Drewett being replaced by Jason Ronowitz, who was having his first game for the Youth XV, and the message from the coaching staff was simple: very much of the same please and simply keep the ball in hand. The first try came from a period of sustained pressure, ending with hooker Lyndon Griffiths doing an 'Alix Popham' by spinning off the side of a maul close to the Narberth try line. With Adam Ball adding the extras with a fine kick from wide out, Tenby had created a position where they could confidently maintain their attacking play, and the pack, who as a unit had a tremendously competitive game, maintained the pressure on the home side. Supporting the industrious Lyndon Griffiths, props Clark and Cockburn were never far from the ball and feeding off the continual supply of lineout ball, the back row of Tuttle, Rogers and Drewett were at their destructive and creative best. Controlling things at half-back, Adam Ball and scrum-half James Davies, fresh from his outing at hooker the previous week, either kicked for position or fed centres McKenzie and Foster, with wingers Merriman and Ginger always eager to continue the attack. Defensively, the entire side maintained their solid red and black line across the pitch with the 'they shall not pass' phrase repeated as they drove Narberth back in the tackle. All the efforts were rewarded when fullback Dan Colley, who had an outstanding game, made a break which took play deep into the Narberth half and from the resulting scrum, number eight Grant Rogers picked-up from the base and powered over for an excellent unconverted try to take the score out to 15-0. With the game well won, the coaching team wheeled on the remainder of the squad, who neatly slotted in without disrupting the running game played by Tenby. The game ended with the players, coaches Keith 'Beef' Lewis, Craig O'Neill and Gareth Thomas, along with the ever-smiling team manager, John Handicott, well pleased with the overall performance and eagerly looking forward to a hard semi-final, at home, to Haverfordwest late in March. Not to be forgotten, there was also the valuable league points picked-up from this double-header, which sees Tenby go top of the league. Praise must also be given to the hardy band of supporters that travelled up to Narberth and made their presence felt as they loudly shouted on the team - many thanks. Before the semi-final game, however, Tenby will entertain Crymych at Heywood Lane on tomorrow (Saturday) prior to the televised Italy v Wales encounter - support welcome. Tenby squad: R. Clark, L. Griffiths, M. Cockburn (J. Pike), H. Boot, L. Dedman, R. Tuttle (T. Jones), G. Rogers, N. Drewett (J. Ronowitz), J. Davies, A. Ball, M. 'Ginger' Jones (E. Harper), R. McKenzie, S. Foster (J. Williams), G. Merriman (BFT), D. Colley.
