Tenby United may not be having the best of seasons in Division Two West, but their form certainly took a turn for the better last Saturday when they sprang a major surprise in the Pembrokeshire Knockout Cup.

Travelling north to take on local rivals Whitland, who play a division higher than the Seasiders, there were probably few who would have given much for their chances against the Borderers on their own patch.

Indeed, Whitland have been having a more than useful campaign in their section, but as we all know, when it comes to cups and local derbies, the form book can be thrown out of the window.

And so it was on Saturday, as the United surprised the Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn faithful with the quality of their performance in a match in which they held sway for much of the time, after outside-half Lloyd Thomas gave them the lead with a long range penalty goal.

Whitland did go close to scoring on a number of occasions, but it was the Seasiders who increased their advantage just before the break, and again it was fly-half Thomas who was the instigator as a clever kick across field was collected by winger Matthew Davies, before being fed on to Jack Broadhurst and finally fullback Yannic Parker, who crossed for the try.

Thomas aded the extras to send Tenby in at half-time with a useful 10-point lead.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Whitland must have been hopeful of turning things around, but the determined United kept them at bay for long periods and the gap remained at 10 points as Thomas and Whitland’s Geraint Jones swopped penalties.

The Borderers did eventually cross the visitors line in the closing stages as centre James Stephenson latched on to a kick from replacement Nico Setaro, but the try went unconverted and by then it was too late anyway as the United now progress to the next round.