Tenby United 27 pts.

Pontyberem 11

Tenby United strengthened their chances of promotion from Division Three West on Saturday when a much-improved Pontyberem side, hell bent on upsetting the Seasiders' recent run of bonus point wins, took to the turf at Heywood Lane.

With reports coming through from their recent opponents' telling the story of massive improvements and recruitment in a bid to avoid the drop, Andrew Price, GD Harries, FBM Holidays and Molson Coors sponsored Tenby United prepared for the game with a massive respect for Pontyberem and the expectation of a real tussle that would be anything but the demolition they had inflicted on a weak Cardigan side the previous week.

They were certainly right in doing so, too, as it was clear from the outset that the visitors had come to win and the two teams looked evenly matched throughout the early exchange of blows, with both sides looking to move the ball and use every inch of the wide open spaces of the pristine Heywood Lane surface, but with both defences thwarting any real advances.

It was the Seasiders, however, who were first to draw blood in the form of a penalty try on seven minutes following their total destruction of the Pontyberem scrum, with Lloyd Thomas adding the simple conversion.

Visiting number 10 Nico Setaro narrowed the deficit on the 26-minute mark with a well-struck penalty.

With the home side trying to light the spark the game so desperately needed by attempting to play their expansive style whenever they had possession, it didn't take long for gaps to show in the visiting defensive line, with massive centres Jack Price and Toby Smith causing big problems with their powerful runs up the middle of the park.

As the United edged their way inside the 'Pont' 22-metre line, with the pack, led by second row skipper Chris James, playing well and the talented back row of Patrick Roberts, Luke Hansford and Roy Osborn always on hand to quickly recycle possession, scrum-half Will Crockford was able to set the in-form Lloyd Thomas loose and with a jink of his trademark side-step sending three visiting defenders giddy, he danced over underneath the sticks to score a fine self-converted try, giving his side a half-time lead of 14 points to three.

Early second half points came for Pontyberem by way of a penalty goal courtesy of the trusty boot of Setaro.

With Thomas now on the sidelines, it was replacement fly-half Jonathan Rogers who slotted a 45th minute penalty which again stretched the Seasiders' lead to 11 points, with the score at 17-6.

Rogers's penalty was quickly followed by the United's third try of the afternoon, the unconverted touchdown being scored by the workhorse that is Patrick Roberts after he pounced on a fumbled ball from the visiting backs.

The bonus point that Tenby needed to help their promotion efforts was earned on 55 minutes by speedster Jimmy Davies who is recently out of retirement after sniffing out a possible cup final berth in the United squad.

The well-worked, but unconverted try was scored in the corner after a move off a lineout saw the ball fly through the backs, who demonstrated some slick handling in the process.

With five league points surely in the bag, the Seasiders could have been accused of taking thir foot off the gas for a few minutes and the Pontyberem scrum-half James McFarlane was able to snipe down the touchline to score in the corner.

With the conversion attempt sailing wide of the uprights and the one final attempt that Pontyberem made to cross the whitewash again, being superbly scuppered by a terrific chase and tackle by Toby Smith, it was Tenby who ran out comfortable winners in the end by 27 points to 11.

The Seasiders travelled to Haverfordwest on Wednesday evening to play another rearranged fixture, a full report on the derby game will be in next week's edition of the Observer.

Tenby United will be playing in this year's Pembrokeshire KO Cup Final, which is to be held at Pembroke Dock Harlequins on Saturday, May 17, at 2.30 pm, and will be against the winners of the Cardigan v Aberystwyth semi-final which is still to be played.

The boys would greatly appreciate the same amount and more support as last year, so if anyone is interested in a supporters bus/buses, please let Dominique know by popping into the clubhouse or calling 01834 843501, or enquire at the next game at Heywood Lane.

Tenby United fielded: Dan Colley, Jack Guerreiro, Toby Smith, Jack Price, Jimmy Davies, Lloyd Thomas (Jonathan Rogers), Will Crockford, Roy Osborn, Luke Hansford (Jason Ronowitz), Patrick Roberts, Luke Dedman, Chris James (capt.), John Palmer (Rob Fairlie), Wes Bonser (Nicky Guymer), Rob Clark.