Tenby United 29 pts. Milford Haven 24

It was a tough afternoon for Tenby United 1st XV on Saturday and the Andrew Price, Molson Coors and FBM Holidays sponsored Seasiders knew that their trip to Milford Haven wasn't going to be an easy one, as these local derby matches have a habit of throwing up the odd surprise.

The young Tenby side were well aware of this and that they could ignore the current run of form that would easily trick the onlooker into thinking it would be an easy afternoon for the side currently sitting in third spot in Division Three West, whereas it should be a hard one for the side at the lower end of the table with just three wins all season.

Indeed, the United knew they should treat the fixture as a potential banana skin game in which defeat would end their hopes of reaching the promotion play-offs.

The Tenby side had worked hard all week in preparation for the game, as they do for every game in this extremely tight and unpredictable league, and came away from their trip across the Cleddau with the win they had ventured there for and a bonus point which would add to their promotion campaign.

But they also came away with a feeling of disappointment and plenty to work on after almost throwing a 24 points to five lead away and allowing their opponents back into the game.

The Seasiders took to the field with a high tempo to their game and the first half seemed to be going to plan, with the United winning most of the possession at the scrum, lineout and in the loose, and playing the open and expansive game that they have become known for.

Such was their dominance that an early score looked likely, but they were denied by the gritty and determined Mariners defence.

Neverthless, the Seasiders continued to chip away at the home side and their perseverance paid off after 20 minutes when nippy winger Simon Stanford had the ball moved wide to him and fancied his chances against a Milford Haven prop who had found himself in the wing position. Not surprisingly, the speedy Stanford went round him to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try.

The Tenby supporters didn't have to wait long for the next score as flanker Luke Woods, who had an excellent all-round game, barged his way over for the score after some solid work from the Seasiders' pack and scrum-half and acting skipper Will Crockford.

Again the try went without the extras.

It was Milford who showed that they would value and use any possession they had next, when, after their forwards worked hard to get within striking distance of the Tenby line, they crossed after catching the visiting defence on the back foot on the 35-minute mark. Their opening try also went unconverted.

The visitors hit back almost immediately for their third score of the afternoon and this came courtesy of lively open-side flanker Luke Hansford, who cantered in under the sticks following good, quick ruck ball from his fellow forwards.

This time Lloyd Thomas was successful with the conversion, giving Tenby a comfortable 17-5 half-time lead.

The second half started as the first had ended, with a Tenby try, and this time it came from a well-worked move involving backs and forwards, which put lock forward Luke Dedman in the position to score and this he did, crashing over for a well-deserved try. Thomas again kicked the conversion, extending the Seasiders' lead to 24 points to five and securing the bonus point on 42 minutes.

This is the point of a game where any defending team would be forgiven for losing heart and the dominant side for running away with it, but it was the complete opposite that actually happened.

The Tenby side seemed to take their foot off the gas and began to lose structure in attack and defence, while at the same time the Mariners refused to roll over and really started to take the game to the Seasiders, causing their own players and supporters to believe that they could turn the game around... and causing 10 years premature ageing to the travelling Tenby contingent.

Milford's comeback started straight after Dedman's try after a driving lineout saw them cross for the score which was converted on 45 minutes.

The Mariners took their chances well and made the most of any Tenby mistakes in attack and defence and they scored another converted try on 50 minutes after an impressive phase of play involving what seemed to be all 15 players, reducing the Seasiders' lead to just five points with half-an-hour still remaining.

It was now a much more evenly contested affair, with the home side challenging the Seasiders in every area and they looked like scoring again, but were denied by the almost desperate defence from the Tenby side, who were now showing grit and determination of their own to make sure they held onto the lead and the game.

Patrick Roberts eased the pressure with 20 minutes remaining after a brilliant solo run off a scrum saw him crash over the Mariners' line for an unconverted try, opening the gap up again to 10 points in United's favour.

It was the home side that would score the next and final points of the game, though, when they took advantage of a yellow card received by Seasiders' centre Jack Guerreiro, which meant that the extra Mariner in attack would stretch the United too far and persistence paid off with the try in the corner that went unconverted.

Tenby defended well for the remainder of the game and ground out the last few minutes, digging deep to run out winners of a match they should have and could have won convincingly.

The Seasiders return to Heywood Lane tomorrow (Saturday) as they welcome Cardigan in another derby match, kicking off at the usual time of 2 pm. Please come along and support the boys.

Tenby United fielded: Kial Keane, Greg Lees Griffiths, Jack Guerreiro, Greg Caine, Simon Stanford, Lloyd Thomas, Will Crockford, Pat Roberts (Jason Ronowitz), Luke Hnasford, Luke Woods (Richard Rossiter), Luke Dedman (Wyndham Williams), Roy Osborn, Johnny Palmer, Gareth Jones, Rob Clark (Lyndon Jones).