Carmarthen Athletic 10 pts

Tenby United 19

Travelling the short distance east to Athletic Park to play second-from-bottom Carmarthen Athletic, top-of-the -table Tenby United were well aware that the last time they visited a couple of seasons ago, while in Division One West, they came away rather embarrassed as they became the home side’s first victory, in what had been a pathetic season for them, ending with relegation.

The coaching staff were well aware of this, and were intent on coming away with a victory to consolidate their prime position in the league and to finish the first half of the season on a high, which will be needed to get back into action in 2017.

With only two changes from the high try scoring game against Tumble a couple of weeks ago, with promising newcomer this season Barry Parsons holidaying in New Zealand and influential number 10 Toby Smith working away over the weekend, Tenby Tourers sponsored Tenby United took the field knowing that to maintain their challenge and to retain top spot would be helped, not only with a win, but also by pocketing a try bonus point, and within minutes of the kick-off were 5-0 up as winger Greg Lees-Griffiths capitalised on a loose kick to slide over wide out.

Carmarthen added to their woes by getting way in front of the restart and at the scrum that followed, Tenby shunted the home eight back at a great rate of knots, allowing halfbacks Crockford and Scott James to release Mark Heywood on a bullocking run at the stretched home defence.

The home side were obviously finding it difficult to keep the rampant Tenby XV at bay and complaints to the referee about his decision-making didn’t help. Scott James was causing all sorts of problems with his stop-start breaks and a neat chip over the on-rushing defence was booted on by Andrew Cooke, who was in support, to be finally popped up to fellow flanker Mike Davies, who crossed the whitewash for a try converted by Jonny Morgan and a comfortable and early 12-0 lead.

Despite shouts from their loyal band of supporters, who also seemed to think that every pass by a Tenby player was forward and that referee Mark Jones was blind, Carmarthen were just not in the game and this trend continued virtually throughout as they struggled to put any attacking move together, and when they did, the well-organised Tenby defence more than adequately held firm.

One dumper truck tackle by centre Jack Guerreiro was the highlight during a period when the game seemed to go into a time warp, with Tenby well pleased with their lead and Carmarthen trying to work out what was needed to even threaten putting a scoring move together.

With Jordan Asparassa, Will Crockford, Joe Poole, Andrew Cooke and skipper Luke Hansford putting in tackles that stopped anything the home side could muster, Luke Dedman and Mike Davies dominating the lineout and the Tenby eight more than comfortable at scrum time, it seemed inevitable that there would be a shed-load of scoring opportunities for the visitors - but it just never happened and a penalty shot at goal by Jonny Morgan that just drifted wide, followed by a combined attacking move involving Andrew Cooke, centres Mark Heywood and Jack Guerreiro and Alex Thomas, which ended with a Hansford knock-on, was the nearest Tenby came to scoring as the half drifted to a close.

Prop Dan McDermott had taken a knock just as the first half came to a close and he was replaced by Rob Clarke, while newcomer Charlie Patching replaced Mike Davis as the teams came out for the second half.

Tenby again went straight on the attack with a skilful pick-up on the run by flanker Andrew Cooke being transferred to Will Crockford, whose chip over the on-rushing defence was chased by Jordan Asparassa, but the homesters just managed to prevent any score developing.

Next it was wing Greg Lees Griffiths who came into the action when he fielded a hurried clearance and, following a thundering run through the initial line of Carmarthen defenders, linked with centres Mark Heywood and Jack Guerreiro, who threatened to add to the score, only for an infringement to bring proceedings to a halt.

There was no respite for the home side, however, as from the scrum that followed, the Tenby eight destroyed the home scrum and as they slowly reassembled and got to their feet, an alert Scott James had taken the penalty and glided through their non-existent defence for the third try of the afternoon.

With Jonny Morgan again on target with the conversion, Tenby led 19-0, with just one more try required to achieve the pre-game target of a four-try win and bonus point.

James was obviously enjoying his stint at number 10 as he teased the home side with his stop/start style and one such jinking run took play from the Tenby 22 right up to the Carmarthen 22, but petered out when a score looked inevitable.

Tenby tried new combinations to break through the Carmarthen defence, with wings Lees Griffiths and Jordan Asparassa pairing up outside centres Mark Heywood and Jack Guerreiro, but no joy.

Despite being totally outplayed, the home side were full of endeavour and enthusiasm and were shouted on by their faithful supporters and this surprisingly gave rise to their first score of the afternoon as Will Edwards scrambled over wide out following a lineout on the Tenby line to close the score to 5-19.

Sensing that all was not lost, the home side maintained their new found momentum and a jinking run out of defence by their number 10, aided by some woeful attempts to put in even a half decent tackle by Tenby, took play deep into the United’s half. Tenby just about managed to get things sorted and forced a lineout following a charge to the try line from the following attack, but a poor throw-in by Allen, who had come on to replace hooker Joe Poole, presented Robbie Thomas with the opportunity to crash through the disorganised visiting defence to close the score to 10-19, and thankfully referee Jones blew for time as the conversion sailed wide.

Although they came away with a win, which on points scored difference keeps them at the top of the table, with fellow challengers for top spot Pontarddulais also missing out on a bonus point as they just beat neighbours Hendy 14-13 at home, the coaching staff will regard this as a missed opportunity to come away with a five-pointer against a struggling Carmarthen side that simply offered no threat whatsoever, until the final quarter of the game, when Tenby seemed to switch-off.

Not sure whether there was too much complacency within the Tenby ranks facing a struggling Carmarthen side or the players were into Christmas mode, as this was the final game before the celebrations got underway… but whatever it was, any repeat as the season resumes on January 7 with an away fixture at Fishguard, will simply not be acceptable for the coaching group.

Tenby: Jonny Morgan, Greg Lees Griffiths, Mark Heywood, Jack Guerreiro, Jordan Asparassa, Scott James, Will Crockford Dan McDermott (Rob Clarke), Joe Poole (Dan Allen), Ethan Morgan, Luke Dedman, Joe Poole, Mike Davis (Charlie Patching), Andrew Cooke, Luke Hansford. Reps - Kieran Machin, Connor Ennis.