PENCLAWDD 11

TENBY UTD 32

Coastal Cottages sponsored Tenby United 1st XV made it two big wins on the bounce on Saturday with their bonus point demolition of in-form Penclawdd.

The home side went into the game as firm favourites and were looking for the double over the Seasiders after their 15-3 win at Heywood Lane earlier in the season.

The United had other ideas, however, and straight from the whistle were intent on showing that they had come to win and settled into their stride early on, matching the big home pack blow for blow, with the usual crash ball running from Geoff Martin, Sam Smith, Gareth Nock and Lourens Britts making great yards into the Cocklemen's half. They also showed great defence up front through big tackles from Nock, Guymer and Richard Rossiter, with Toby Smith, Dai Meyrick, James Criddle and Sion Brace keeping things watertight behind.

As the game got into its flow, it was a close fought battle, with both sides looking to move the ball and seeking that elusive line break.

The Seasiders scrummaged well and certainly held their own against the heavy Penclawdd pack. Props Palmer and Martin worked hard along with Sheriff Guymer up front and Luke Dedman and Lourens Britts competed well at the lineout, ensuring scrum-half Jason Scarfe could give good clean ball out to Tom Lewis and the threequarters and even take the ball on himself on sniping runs.

First half scores came from Thomas Lewis, taking all the Tenby points through a penalty and an unconverted try, while Penclawdd also managing a penalty and an unconverted try, resulting in a score of eight-all at half-time.

It was following the interval team talk that the Seasiders came into their own and, after matching the home side point for point and comfortably soaking up everything the high-flying Cocklemen - currently sitting fourth in Division Three West - could throw at them, they were happy and confident to start throwing the ball around, playing the expansive and exciting style of rugby that has entertained supporters and shocked opponents and certain radio and newspaper pundits alike in recent outings.

The pace of the game was still intense and Tenby were looking the more comfortable and fitter side, with Turbo commanding the territory battle with pin-point positional kicking and wingers Simon Stanford and James Criddle both causing problems with their blistering pace on many a trot deep into the heart of Cockle country, after being given a regular supply of quality ball from the now dominant Seasiders pack.

An offence by the home team on the hour resulted in Turbo adding three points to the tally. Tenby regained possession through superb turnover defence from Rossiter and Nock and with the ball in Scarfe's hands, he opted to get the ball wide and after a well-worked move, Toby Smith crossed the whitewash for a try, which was duly converted by Lewis.

The game settled down a bit and both teams battled on, winning much of their own ball, but after securing quick ball off a breakdown in the United 22, Penclawdd managed to come away with three points from a clever and well-struck drop goal.

As it turned out, though, it was to be their last score of the day, as everything else they tried for the remainder of the game was stopped by solid Seasiders' defence with 1-15 all tackling well.

The next score came when Justin Richards, on with fresh legs for the well played Richard Rossiter, received the ball in open play and broke the Penclawdd line, before releasing Sam Smith on a trademark run down field, beating every defender that came close and touching down for the try, which again had the extra two points added by Lewis.

More fresh legs were brought on in the last quarter, with a well scrummaged John Palmer making way for youth prop Rob Fairlie to make his 1st XV debut, recently returned Fijian Thomas on for Nock in the back row, exhausted after giving everything he had as usual, and Jack Gurreiro on for winger Criddle, who along with his back three partners of Stanford and Brace had caused big problems for the home defence.

It wasn't long before the re-shuffled Tenby pack was tested, with young Rob Fairlie certainly fronting up and more than holding his own against the much more experienced Penclawdd prop he was scrummaging against and Richards running well with Toby Smith and Dedman in the loose.

After an intense period of Seasiders attacks, the Cocklemen's defence was less than tight and with Stanford, Martin, Guymer and Britts, along with Sam Smith and Dai Meyrick, all making yards, they were really asking questions of the home backline, with Stanford and Richards almost breaking free.

The Tenby XV were now looking by far the fitter and stronger and it enabled Jack Guerreiro to cross for what must be a contender for try of the season, finishing a move which he also started and which saw almost every pair of the 15 Seasiders' hands get a touch of the ball. Quite rightly, it had every supporter from both camps on their feet in applause.

This brought the United to a score of 32-11 in the lead after Turbo added the extra two points, closing the game with a personal tally of 17 points after his try, three conversions and two penalties.

The confident Seasiders had been the side that stood out right from the start and Nicky Guymer had captained them to another huge win.

The United have now moved up to eighth in the table and are showing that the hard work and commitment put in on the training field on a Tuesday and Thursday is paying off, although this weekend they are looking forward to a well-deserved rest due to the internationals.

After that, though, they are eager to avenge two earlier defeats by local rivals and table-toppers Haverfordwest, when they travel there to play the return league fixture on Saturday, February 11, having lost to the Blues earlier in the season both at Heywood Lane and in their Swalec Plate encounter at Haverfordwest.

The Seasiders will be confident that they can overturn these results after much improvement and recruitment. Supporters are urged to travel to Haverfordwest to watch the Division Three West fixture which, in light of recent Tenby performances, promises to be a cracker.

Following the game, the Tenby United Supporters Club remind you of the Valentine's Buffet and Dance taking place in the clubhouse, in Upper Frog Street, with prizes going to the best dressed 'Famous Couple'. It is sure to be a fun-filled night and you can buy your tickets from the club or from Janet Brace at Laugharne Bakery, Tudor Square, and they are £5 each.

Tenby fielded: Sion Brace, James Criddle (Jack Guerreiro), Dai Meyrick, Toby Smith, Simon Stanford, Thomas Lewis, Jason Scarfe, Sam Smith, Gareth Nock (Thomas), Richard Rossiter (Justin Richards), Luke Dedman, Lourens Britts, Geoff Martin, Nicky Guymer (capt.), Johnny Palmer (Rob Fairlie).