Crymych 80 pts.

Tenby United 12

As they drove up through the Preselis, with what on paper was a reasonably strong team to face a Crymych side that was under threat of relegation, and had only narrowly beaten them in their home game back in September by 20-15, G. D. Harries sponsored Tenby United soon had to face up to reality as within 17 minutes, the home side had run in four converted tries and gained their try bonus point and the game was all about damage limitation.

Kicking off slightly beyond the scheduled start time, due to a road accident on the outskirts of Crymych - which forced the team bus, along with any travelling support, to take a narrow adventurous lane route to get to the Parc Lloyd Thomas ground,

Tenby were immediately under threat, as from the first scrum, number eight Dan Jenkins picked up from the base, drew the visiting defence, before slipping the ball to scrum-half Rhys Davies, who in turn fed the ball to centre Carwyn Phillips, who cantered over unopposed under the sticks. With Rhys Davies adding the extras, what was going to be a torrid afternoon for Tenby was underway.

Tenby attempted to threaten the Crymych try line from the restart, with Jordan Asparassa teasing the home defence with a jinking run, but their well-organised defence held firm and broke away to put Tenby under pressure.

Stretching the Seasiders’ defence, a second score came from about the sixth attacking phase, with the very impressive flanker Rhys Davies popping the ball to supporting second row Rhys Richards, who went over for a good team try and, with Rhys Davies adding the extras, it took the score out to 14-0.

From the restart, Tenby did themselves no favours by spilling the ball and a speculative kick and chase ended with speedy wing Dylan Thomas touching down and, with Davies again adding the extras, a 21-0 scoreline, with only 10 minutes played, highlighted that Tenby were in for another very testing afternoon.

Skipper Luke Hansford bravely took on the home defence, but lacked support when it was needed and this was not helped by Tenby losing an attacking lineout. Only a superb tackle and steal from fellow flanker Jason Ronowitz saved another breakaway by the home side, but Jason was turned over by the well-marshalled defence leading to a superb 50-metre break by hooker Aled Harries, who when confronted with the last line of defence, fullback Dan Colley, lobbed the ball in field knowing there would be somebody supporting his break, and Dylan Thomas went over for the bonus point fourth try. The reliable Rhys Davies took his tally to eight points with the conversion and a very comfortable 28-0 lead.

It was Luke Hansford again who sparked Tenby into life with a quick tap and go from a penalty and a series of good offloads released outside-half Scott James to crash over for a try, which he converted himself, narrowing the scores to 28-7.

This reverse in the scoring trend sparked Crymych into action and classy number 10 Carwyn Jones executed a neat chip and chase from deep inside his 22, which was quickly followed by a repeat of the tactic as play progressed to the halfway line, only for a wicked bounce to stop progress.

Play had slipped into sloppy mode, with both sides taking wrong options or lacking the basics to turn opportunities into points. Tenby seemed to be playing like a bunch of individuals, whereas the home side, to steady the ship, reverted to tactics that obviously benefited from hours on the training paddock by using their obvious scrummaging power, and a series of scrums deep in the Tenby 22 ended with referee Ludgate awarding a penalty try as the United scrum collapsed for the third time under immense pressure.

Extras were added by Davies and a score of 35-7, with the threat of more to follow.

Tenby struggled with a full complement and with skipper Hansford yellow-carded, as he illegally tried to kill the ball at a breakdown, being down to 14 offered Crymych an opportunity they grasped.

At the next scrum, Tenby went on the retreat so fast they nearly ended up in the car park and scrum-half Rhys Davies was presented with an easy try which he converted to stretch the score to 42-7.

Virtually on half-time, captain Tom Powell sliced through the depleted and stretched Tenby defence and, with fullback Tom Turner in support, slipped the ball for him to go over wide out for an unconverted try and a well-deserved 47-7 half-time lead.

In an attempt to bolster their under pressure front row, coaches Cone and Richard Rossiter sent out on-permit prop Tom Slater from Narberth, and newcomer to the club, hooker Joe Poole, for Ethan Morgan and Dan Allen.

These changes and the return of skipper Hansford didn’t have the impact hoped for as Crymych destroyed the Tenby scrum and, taking the ball against the head, released number 10 Carwyn Jones, who tore through what there was of a defence, to stroll over under the posts and with Davies adding the extras, the scoreboard ticked over to 54-7.

Injured just before half-time, a strapped-up and gallant Greg Lees Griffiths was in no shape to continue and he was replaced by Connor Ennis. The fact that Crymych were now reduced to 14, with second row Andrew Phillips yellow-carded, had no or little impact on the home side and a quickly taken penalty took Tenby by surprise and slick ball transfer and excellent backing up released fullback Tom Turner for his second try, converted by Davies, edging the score out to 61-7.

Prop Rob Luly, in addition to being under immense pressure at scrum time along with the other seven forwards, attempted to shake off a leg injury, but despite several attempts to run-off his injury, was eventually replaced by the returning Ethan Morgan.

With the home side now back up to full complement, quick ball from a breakdown released the rampant Crymych half-backs and an accurate pass from scrum-half Davies to partner Carwyn James saw him chip over the on coming Tenby defence for Nick Bevan to scoop up the ball and cross the whitewash for a try, again converted by Davies, and a 68-7 score.

A dispirited Tenby side virtually stood like training cones when from the restart centre Tomos Phillips waltzed through for an unchallenged score, which was again converted by Davies and 75-7.

In an attempt to regain some pride, the Tenby half-backs Sam Davies and Scott James tested and stretched the home defence, only for a speculative pass to be gathered by Crymych, who started a promising counter-attack from deep in their half, but a spirited Tenby defence held firm and a ball stolen from Crymych was exploited by fullback Dan Colley and Luke Hansford, who worked Jordan Asparassa into a position where he went over for a well-worked try, making the Crymych scoreboard boy move the Tenby numbers for a change to 75-12.

With the game drawing to a close, it was left to the home side to have the last say, with burly centre Tomos Phillips breaking through the remnants of a Tenby defence for supporting fullback Tom Turner to run in wide out for his third, and Crymych’s 12th try. Although missing the conversion, scrum-half Davies could be well pleased with his 25-point contribution.

Totally outplayed and out-thought, Tenby were given a tough lesson by a side that obviously trains well together and were streets ahead in terms of organisation, fitness, defence, basics (passing, catching, tackling etc), scrummaging, and support play and as you would expect from this, oozed confidence and were totally dominant for the 80 minutes and training this week for the final league game against Gowerton up at Heywood Lane tomorrow (Saturday) will test the resilience and commitment of the Tenby outfit as they strive to end their campaign with a much-needed win.

Tenby United fielded: Dan Colley, Greg Lees Griffiths (Connor Ennis, 45), Moritz Neumann, Jack Guerreiro, Jordan Asparassa, Scott James, Sam Davies, Luke Hansford (capt), Jason Ronowitz, Ryan Jeramias, Alex Thomas, Luke Dedman, Ethan Morgan (Tom Slater, 40), Dan Allen (Joe Poole, 40), Rob Luly.