Tenby United 33 pts. Hendy 12

Without doubt for Tenby Tourers sponsored Tenby United this was the most important match of the season which, as well as being the last home game of this extended season, was a must-win game if they were to retain any interest in promotion to Division One West.

Current leaders Tycroes had finished their campaign the previous week, setting a target of 75 points to all the clubs in the promotion battle, and as Tenby and Hendy were two of these, the result would obviously have a massive impact on the top of the table.

From their match back in mid-October, Tenby were well aware of the attacking potential of Hendy, having been outscored by three tries to two when they visited Maes Gwilli, but were also aware that then they were coming off a two-week break, were missing three key players and that the home side had surprisingly bolstered their team with several ‘local’ players registered with Carmarthen Quins, who play in the Principality Premiership, so went into this match confident the necessary result could and would be achieved.

In ideal conditions, apart from a blustery cold wind blowing towards the scoreboard end, and in front of a sizeable crowd, Tenby trotted out hoping to maintain their rich vein of form, having crossed for 29 tries in the last four matches, and knowing full well that it was essential to start the game with the same momentum that they had finished last week’s against Llanybydder.

And right on cue, with the kick-off well fielded by Luke Dedman, they set off in aggressive fashion, with direct straight runs being put in by Andrew Cooke and Luke, complemented by a couple of early neat touches from Ashley Sutton putting Hendy on the back foot.

Their early enterprise was rewarded when Hendy were penalised by referee Andy Davies, but Ashley Sutton’s attempt sailed just wide of the upright.

Nevertheless, the United had put down a marker as to the style of play they wanted and the pressure continued to be applied to the visitors. With a good early supply of quick ball, the home threes were stretching the Hendy defence all over the park and were rewarded just before the 10-minute mark, with centre Moritz Neumann being put into a scoring position which he gratefully accepted and crossed for the first try of the afternoon, which was excellently converted by Ashley Sutton from wide out and a deserved 7-0 lead.

From the restart, Tenby nearly presented Hendy with an opportunity to match their early score when for some unknown reason the ball was left to bounce around with nobody wanting to take responsibility and they were rather fortunate to eventually secure possession, allowing Ashley Sutton to take play back to the halfway line.

Stealing the throw-in, the Tenby threes combined with Luke Dedman and Andrew Cooke and a second try was only prevented by some resolute Hendy defence.

From the next scrum, which had the viistors in all sorts of trouble, number eight Barry Parsons seized on the opportunity to break from the base and link with his half-backs, who in turn linked back inside to flanker Luke Hansford, who went over wide out.

With another superb conversion, Ashley Sutton stretched the lead to 14-0, which seemed to rattle the visitors somewhat.

Putting their first real attacking move together, Hendy tested the home defence, which was well-organised and prevented anything threatening from being developed, only for a pass by scrum-half Morgan to just drop short and low to his halfback partner Sutton, causing him to knock-on.

Using this as a springboard to attack, the visiting forwards mounted a series of pick and goes, targeting the Tenby line, and their efforts were rewarded when Jordon Thomas emerged from a pile of bodies, having scored wide out to narrow the deficit to 14-5.

The next score was manufactured by the Morgans’, with fullback Jonny initially sending the visitors way back into their half with a superb clearance kick and then, from a subsequent scrum, brother Matthew zig-zagged his way past what seemed to be half the Hendy team, to dot the ball down under the posts.

Hendy argued that the run had involved some crossing by Tenby players, but referee Andy Davies did not agree and the score stood. In all honesty, if there had been a TMO they might have proved their case, but the try was allowed and with Sutton adding the extras, a 21-5 game emerged with about 10 minutes of the first half remaining.

Hendy were not helped as play went up to half-time by having a player yellow carded for not rolling away from a tackle, but despite being a man down, they defended well, helped somewhat by a Tenby lineout that became a tad sloppy, removing an attacking platform for the home side.

In fact, the United themselves were put under pressure from a series of charges and close range pick and goes by the forwards, who targeted the 10 channel, only to find fly-half Sutton defending solidly, while the remainder of the home defence was well organised and disciplined and also held firm.

It meant that the Seasiders were able to go off for half-time oranges well pleased with their first 40 minutes display against an ‘early game confident opposition’ which had been well and truly kept in check and subdued.

Playing into the wind, as the second half got underway, Hendy failed to exploit any early ball they obtained by not making any worthwhile forward headway in attack through moving the ball along the threes, as Tenby nullified anything from being developed, forcing the visitors to simply go from one side of the pitch to the other without any forward momentum, which eventually saw them having to revert to using the boot to gain any ground.

With the lineout option becoming a bit of a lottery for Tenby, attacks were drying up, but securing a loose ball deep in their 22, Tenby put together a series of close passing and excellent backing-up phases involving forwards Barry Parsons, Andrew Cooke and props Rob Luly and Rob Clarke to take play deep into the Hendy half, where with early possession from the breakdown, Parsons smuggled the ball to scrum half Matthew Morgan, who launched a huge pass out wide to unmarked wing Jordan Asparassa, who sped over in the corner for the all-important bonus point fourth try, extending the lead to 26-5.

With the restart going straight out - one thing the dispirited Hendy side just didn’t want - it presented Tenby with an ideal opportunity to maintain their momentum and slick inter-passing involving Ashley Sutton, Luke Dedman and a very mobile Rob Clarke found skipper Hansford on hand to take the inside pass and go over for his second try, which converted by Sutton, took the scores out to 33-5 and a comfortable game won situation.

Well and truly beaten and obviously disappointed with their performance, the visitors got a bit aggressive with the odd off-the-ball incident and tried to muscle their way back into the game.

Tenby rang the changes to bring their experienced bench into play, with the returning Jonathan Rogers replacing an injured Ashley Sutton, while in the forwards, Rob Clarke, Andrew Cooke and Mike Davis were replaced by Ethan Morgan, Alex Thomas and Rob Weston.

These changes took time to settle in and for the first time in the match the Tenby scrum came under pressure and the lineout continued to cause concern.

As had happened late in the first half, Tenby were being dragged down to the level Hendy wanted to play and there were several clashes which eventually turned into a situation where half the players were involved in a scuffle which, when brought to a halt, ended with Luke Dedman and a fiery Ashley Banfied being sent to the naughty step.

Although not part of the scuffle incident, number eight Barry Parsons had been yellow carded earlier, so it was 14 v 13 players.

Buoyed by gaining some advantage from this, Hendy rumbled over for a try, scored by Iwan Mayze, which was converted by Gareth Thomas, closing the score to 33-12.

Bringing on Nicky Guymer to replace Dan Allen, Tenby emptied their bench and the game rather disappointedly meandered to a close, with a triumphant Tenby team and coaching group trotting off the park with a well-earned four-pointer, placing them in a guaranteed second place promotion slot, with the final game at Pontyberem tomorrow (Saturday), the only thing standing in the way of Tenby United being crowned champions of Division Two West.

Although coming away with a well deserved victory, there must be concerns among the coaching group about the lineout which was inconsistent throughout the 80 minutes, while the set-piece went from being dominant, when the starting eight were on the park, to one under severe pressure when the bench took to the field.

There was also a bout of trying the miracle pass early on in the game when simply going to ground and winning the ball in a controlled fashion was the safer option.

But a solid coaching session in the lead up to the critical game tomorrow will address these concerns.

There must also be some questions about Pontyberem’s 43-3 victory over Llanybydder on the same day, following Tenby’s 50-8 victory the week before last, over the same opposition.

Tenby United would like to thank Molson Coors for their match and ball sponsorship, as well as Heywood’s Butchers for man-of-the-match sponsorship, which was deservedly awarded after the game, in a jubilant clubhouse, to Matthew Morgan

Tenby: Jonny Morgan, Mark Heywood, Scott James, Moritz Neumann, Jordan Asparassa, Ashley Sutton (Jonathan Rogers), Matthew Morgan, Rob Luly, Dan Allen (Nicky Guymer), Rob Clarke (Ethan Morgan), Luke Dedman, Mike Davis (Rob Weston), Andrew Cooke ((Alex Thomas), Barry Parsons, Luke Hansford (capt).