Whitland 9 pts.

Tenby United 12

Tenby United managed a vital win when they travelled to local rivals Whitland last Saturday thanks to the boot of in-form scrum-half Jonathan Rogers.

The narrow but well-deserved derby win did more than boost the onfidence for the GD Harries, FBM Holidays, Kiln Park and Molson Coors sponsored Seasiders in that it kept them ahead of the basement battlers in what has become an extremely tightly fought Division One West campaign.

The visitors looked to move the Borderers pack around and looked the more dangerous in the opening exchanges as most of the first half of the game was played within the Whitland half.

Tenby used their big runners to good effect before shipping the ball wide for the backs to open gaps in the home defence when in attack and defended well when the Borderers had possession.

The Seasiders soaked up everything that was thrown at them by way of Whitland attacks and managed to turn their territorial advantage into points through the boot of Jonathan Rogers who landed two first half penalties to keep his side in front.

After both sides traded blows for most of the half through their forwards, it was the Tenby outfit that managed to get within striking distance of their opponents line more often and, despite no tries being recorded due to some gritty Whitland defence, they did manage to get close enough for fly-half Ashley Sutton to slot a superb dropped goal right on the 40-minute mark, giving the Seasiders the half-time lead of nine points to nil.

The Borderers struck early in the second half with a penalty landed by centre James Stephenson, which was matched by Rogers two minutes later when a late hit on Tenby fullback Damo Miller meant the scrum-half could edge his side further ahead with the well-hit penalty.

Both teams must be given credit for their efforts in what was a typically close-fought derby game and, despite United dominating the first half and arguably most of the second, they did allow Stephenson to close the gap when two counts of indiscipline led to two second half penalties from the Whitland centre.

It was the Seasiders who looked the most likely to cross the whitewash through some expansive backline running and passing of their forwards' hard-earned possession, but the home defence held strong all afternoon, as did that of the Tenby side.

The game ended with Tenby clinching the vital and deserved win, while Whitland settled for a losing bonus point which will do their fight to stay above the basement battle no harm at all.

Tenby entertain Newcastle Emlyn tomorrow (Saturday), with kick-off at Heywood Lane at 2.30 pm.

Please go along and support the boys in what will be a massive game for the club.

Tenby United fielded: Damo Miller, Dan Colley, Jack Guerreiro, Jordan Asparassa, Mark Heywood, Ashley Sutton, Jonathan Rogers, Jason Ronowitz, Luke Hansford, Andrew Cooke (Richard Rossiter), Rob Weston, Luke Dedman, Rob Luly (Johnny Palmer), Gareth Jones (c), Rob Clark.