Tenby United 27 pts. Landeilo 9

Andrew Price, FBM Holidays and Molson Coors sponsored Tenby United 1st XV welcomed Llandeilo to Heywood Lane on Saturday for their latest Swalec League Division Three West fixture.

With Llandeilo being the only side in the entire league last season to beat the Seasiders home and away, the Tenby players were very keen to make sure that that was not going to happen this season.

This was obvious from the kick-off as the pack chased Lloyd Thomas's kick deep into the Llandeilo 22 and pinned them within inches of their try line. With the usual quality support play from his back row partners, Roy Osborn and Pat Roberts, number eight Sam Smith was able to smash up knowing that the ball would quickly be recycled for scrum-half Will Crockford to get the threequarters moving.

This he did and, if it hadn't been for a last ditch tackle by the visitors fullback, United winger Chris Heesom would have gone over for the first score of the game; he was brought down just on the line, but was unable to ground the ball. An offence at the ensuing ruck meant that Llandeilo would get the chance to clear their lines and have a chance to regroup from the resulting penalty which sailed into touch on the halfway line.

Luke Dedman was able to pinch the Llandeilo throw-in, but wasn't quite able to gather it cleanly and the ball was knocked forward, meaning that the two packs could go down for the first scrummage of the match with the put-in going to the visitors.

As normal, the Seasiders' front row of Rob Clarke, stand-in captain Nicky Guymer and Lyndon Jones were solid and keen to make it a long afternoon for their opponents and with the back five of Dedman, Roberts, Timoci Kaumatotya, Osborn and Smith adding the extra weight, they easily shoved Landeilo off the ball, turning the scrum over and allowing Crockford and fly-half Lloyd Thomas to dictate the plays.

Fullback Aled Bowen entered the line taking a flat pass from Thomas just inside the Llandeilo half. With nothing on out wide, he put the bomb up for the visiting fullback to try and defuse, but with a terrific chase, Bowen was under the ball and on top of his opposite number before he knew it, forcing the Llandeilo man to spill the ball and earning the Seasiders another scrum within striking distance of the Llandeilo try line.

Number eight Smith broke from the scrum and drew in the visiting back row, meaning that quick ruck ball was sent via Crockford to Roy Osborn on the blind side, catching Llandeilo off guard. Osborn drew two defenders before he got the ball away to winger Heesom, who steamed down the touchline to score out wide. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Tenby had points on the board and a fivenil lead after nine minutes.

Tenby continued to apply pressure during the next 10 minutes, turning the Llandeilo scrummage over again and managing the odd steal at the lineout in the forward battle. The back line also made good ground into the visitors' half through solid running from centres Toby Smith and Dan Colley and from wingers Heesom and Stanford.

It wasn't all one-way traffic, though, and Llandeilo did try to run their share of possession, too, forcing the Seasiders to defend, which they did through superb tackling from Guymer, Kaumatotya and Osborn up front and from Smith, Colley and Stanford behind, making sure that the try line stayed intact.

The Seasiders looked like the dominant side, but it was Llandeilo who grabbed the next points, albeit only three from the boot of centre Aled Jenkins, who slotted over a penalty following a Tenby offence at a ruck. This closed the gap to just two points on the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

It was not long before Keith Walker and Tim Roberts were adding more numbers to the scoreboard, though, as Tenby found themselves five metres off the Llandeilo line with the put-in at a scrum. Again it was the Seasiders who were in charge at the scrummage and Sam Smith picked up and made a move for the line. Heavily marked, though, he had to recycle the ball with the help of Kaumatotya and Roberts, allowing Will Crockford to get quick ball away to Guymer, who wasn't letting anyone get in his way as he bashed his way over the line for the try.

The conversion was again just too far out for the boot of Thomas, making it 10-3 to Tenby after 25 minutes.

With their tails up and confidence growing, the Seasiders were off again, this time from a well won Luke Dedman lineout. Dedman gave Crockford top quality ball off the top and he offloaded a short ball to Sam Smith, who linked with Roy Osborn to set up the ruck ball, which was secured by the rest of the Tenby eight. This allowed Crockford to quickly recycle and get it away to Lloyd Thomas, who dummied his way through half a gap and passed to Toby Smith, who broke two tackles and then sent speedster Simon Stanford on his way for the try, which went unconverted, giving Tenby a 15-3 lead.

The game seemed to go off the boil for the next period and it turned into a much more evenly contested affair, with the Seasiders seeming to relax and allowing their opponents back into the hunt. The only points they came away with, though came from another Jenkins penalty after an offence by Guymer, which the referee deemed worthy of a yellow card. Jenkins kicked the penalty, bringing the half-time score to Tenby United 15 points Llandeilo six.

The United received the restart and replacement Lee Tucker ran at the visitors, linking well with Kaumatotya and Osborn, who recycled the ball quickly, as they did all afternoon, and sent the backline running. The Seasiders immediately looked dangerous and Colley, Stanford and Bowen began causing big problems for the Llandeilo backline.

It was Llandeilo, however, who claimed the first points of the half, again through Aled Jenkins's boot by way of a penalty, which brought the his side back into the game as they now trailed by just six points, with the scoreboard reading 15 points to nine in Tenby's favour.

The large crowd that had gathered at Heywood Lane had to wait until 71 minutes for the next score to come and it came through the in-form Toby Smith, who took the ball on halfway and broke tackles and dodged defenders all the way to the Llandeilo line, touching down for a superb solo effort. The conversion was again unsuccessful, but the Seasiders still looked firmly in control at 20-9 up.

The United piled on the pressure during the last 10 minutes and fresh legs were brought on in the shape of Johnny Palmer for the well-played prop Rob Clarke.

After 77 minutes, Lloyd Thomas was able to break his duck by slotting over the conversion following a penalty try being deservedly awarded to the Seasiders' pack who had out-scrummaged their opponents all day. It came after the United eight put so much pressure on the Llandeilo set-piece that they collapsed two consecutive five-metre scrums and left the referee no choice but to award the try.

Tenby made one final replacement, bringing on Thomas Lewis, home from fishing out of Holland, for fly-half Lloyd Thomas and the boot of Lewis meant that Llandeilo were pinned in their own half for the remainder of the game, with the United running out deserved winners by 27 points to nine.

Tenby 2nd XV also entertained Llandeilo on Saturday in the All Wales Sport Division One West and ran out comfortable winners by 63 points to 12 under coach Delwyn Brace and captain Mark Wooles.

The 1st and 2nd XVs train at Heywood Lane every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm, and new players are always welcome.

The hard work that the Seasiders are putting in at training is beginning to show in their performances, although they still have a few things to work on.

A mention must also go to the structure within the club, from grass roots level right up through the Youth and 2nds to the 1st team, with 90 per cent of the Seasiders' senior squad having come through the successful mini and junior sides.

Tenby Swifts boast sides from under 7s age up to under 16s and they train and play weekly at the Clicketts. New players are always welcome and for more information on the Seasiders' Mini and Junior Section, including training times etc., contact Minis and Juniors chairman, Justin Richards, or any of the coaches/management.

All contact information and details can be found on the Tenby United website http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/tenbyunitedrugbyfootballclub/">www.pitchero.com/clubs/tenbyunitedrugbyfootballclub/

Tenby United 1st XV fielded: Aled Bowen, Simon Stanford, Dan Colley, Toby Smith, Chris Heesom, Lloyd Thomas (Thomas Lewis), Sam Smith, Timoci Kaumatotya, Roy Osborn, Pat Roberts, Luke Dedman, Lyndon Jones (Lee Tucker), Nicky Guymer, Rob Clarke (John Palmer).

FOOTNOTE: Tenby United RFC would like to give massive congratulations to all involved with the very successful Ironman Wales event on Sunday, especially to all the locals who took part, An extra special congratulations to all the former Tenby United players who completed the gruelling course and can now call themselves Ironmen - all of those wet, cold, winter nights training on the Clicketts and Heywood Lane must have seemed like a walk in the park compared to what you all went through on Sunday. Well done to all of you.