Gowerton 25 pts.

Tenby United 17

GD Harries sponsored Tenby United were back on the pitch last Saturday after no less than six weeks without a game due to the weather causing their games to be postponed.

With no scheduled league fixture, it was a chance to replay the game away at Gowerton that was abandoned earlier in the season when Seasiders flanker Andrew Cooke sustained a very serious leg and ankle injury forcing the game to come to a temporary halt.

Having already played their hosts for almost an hour in the abandoned game, the young Tenby outfit knew what to expect from them and the game was a lot more evenly matched, with the Seasiders looking the more dangerous of the two sides when they moved the ball into the wide channels, and managed three tries for their efforts.

Despite Tenby looking much improved on their last few games, they were still a lot younger and the home side had the edge through experience up front and they had had the chance to shake-off any weather induced rust and Christmas turkey a week earlier as they had managed to get a game under their belts against local rivals Gorseinon.

The opening quarter was very evenly matched, with the home side edging the exchanges up front and the Tenby side the more creative in the backs.

Gowerton opened the scoring in the 17th minute when they managed to out-muscle the Seasiders and earn themselves a penalty try from a scrum-five, which was duly converted from in front of the sticks by fly-half J. Hanner, giving his side the lead, seven points to nil.

Tenby struck back almost immediately when they strung together some phases of play that were typical of the style in which they were playing two seasons ago and it was Mark Heywood who crossed the line for the impressive try which went unconverted.

The powerful centre’s touchdown came after some slick handling from the backs caused gaps in the home defence and noticing there was no fullback at home, centre Scott James was able to capitalise on the space behind the defence with a well-weighted chip, which Heywood gathered at pace and was virtually unstoppable as he crashed in for the score to narrow the deficit to two points.

Although it was Tenby looking to play the more open rugby and causing problems for the Gowerton defence, the Gower side still had the upper hand in the scrummage and grabbed another try from their powerful forwards from another drive from the five-metre line, with the ball being brought almost to the line, before centre G .John took the short pass to cross for the try which went unconverted.

That brought the first half to a close, with the hosts in front by 17 points to five, but the visitors were still well and truly in the game.

If the United were to stay in touch, though, they would have to score first after the oranges and that they did through strong number eight Rob Weston.

The try came after good defensive work from hooker Wes Bonser and winger Jordan Asparassa forced a turnover, allowing a quick and effective counter-attack from deep in their own half.

Skipper Harry Bolton broke away and linked with the supporting Mark Heywood, who broke two tackles and then sent lock Luke Dedman down the line on a strong run; Dedman drew the would-be defender and got the pass away to Weston, who wasn’t going to be stopped as he bullocked in for a superb try, which again went unconverted, but narrowed the scoreline to 17-10.

The Seasiders were by now, growing in confidence and all signs of the long break were quickly disappearing, but they couldn’t quite manage to get their noses in front as it was, again, the Gowerton side that would score next and keep themselves ahead.

Number eight Ryan Thomas claimed the score, which came again from a powerful set-piece on the United’s five-metre line, this time from a driving lineout, but well-worked all the same.

Hanner missed the conversion, but the try had extended their lead once again.

Replacement outside half T. Gronrow landed a penalty soon after to give the home side a 25 points to 10 lead, but it was Tenby who looked the better side as the match entered its closing stages.

The visitors continued to threaten the Gowerton line, but only managed one more score, which sadly, despite being well converted by fly-half Aaron James, was still just one point short of the losing bonus point that would have come in very handy for the Seasiders.

The score was still impressive, as were all of United’s tries, and was scored by right wing Greg Lees Griffiths, who gathered an intelligent cross-field kick from James to canter in for what was easily try of the season so far.

The game ended 25 points to 17 in Gowerton’s favour, but Tenby took a lot of positives and confidence from it and with key players coming back from injury in the next few weeks, the much-needed win is sure to come for the Seasiders, who despite it being January, are still not even halfway through the season and so remain upbeat about turning things around and surviving in Division One West.

Tenby welcome Gorseinon to Heywood Lane tomorrow (Saturday) in what will be an entertaining game to watch, so we hope that the town will get behind the boys and come and cheer them on, with kick-off at Heywood Lane being 2.30 pm.

Tenby United fielded: D. Colley (J. Guerreiro), G. Lees Griffiths, S. James, M. Heywood, J. Asparassa, A. James, L. Conbeer, R. Weston, M. Reed, A. Thomas, H. Bolton (capt), L. Dedman, L. Jones, W. Bomser (D.Allen), R. Luly (R. Clark), M. Reed, R. Rossiter, J. Criddle Jnr.