TUMBLE RFC 26 pts.

TENBY UNITED 23

Coastal Cottages sponsored Tenby United 1st XV travelled to Tumble on Saturday to try and improve on the draw between the two sides when they met at Heywood Lane earlier in the season.

Right from the start, the fired-up Seasiders made it clear that they had come to win and, as Richard Rossiter claimed the ball from the kick-off, the United pack drove the home side 15 yards up field and quick ruck ball ensured Jason 'Yogi' Scarfe at scrum-half could release the ball to Thomas Lewis, who punted it deep into the Tumble 22, where great follow-up running from Jack Guerreiro and Dan Meyrick pressured the Tumble fullback into touch 15 yards out.

At the lineout, second row Luke Dedman won excellent ball, as he did all day, and again Scarfe could get the ball away to the eager backline. Fly-half Turbo threw a long pass to Toby Smith, who broke through three defenders in midfield, before going to ground. Quick ball won by Justin Richards and Lourens Britts, along with Geoffrey Martin and Rob Clarke, meant that skipper Nicky Guymer could throw a lofted pass 'Phil Bennett' style over the last defender to winger Simon Stanford, who cantered in to score after three minutes. The conversion was unsuccessful.

Almost straight from the restart, the stunned home side replied with a well-struck penalty, bringing the score to 5-3 in Tenby's favour.

Tenby began to dominate the game in all areas, with Dedman and Britts winning everything at the lineout, including the odd Tumble throw-in, and the pack completely dominating at the scrummage too.

Every time Tumble did manage to get the ball, they couldn't create anything as the Tenby defence of Aled Bowen, Guerreiro, Meyrick and Smith closed them down behind and some massive tackles from Guymer, Martin, Andrew Cooke and Richard Rossiter thwarted any attempt they made to gain any territory, and were even turned over regularly by some aggressive Tenby counter-rucking.

Tumble did manage to take a short-lived lead on 14 minutes through a penalty, but the first half remained under Tenby United's control, with every player, from one to 15, playing with everything they had.

Turbo replied to the penalty on 18 minutes after a swinging Tumble arm and made it 8-6 to Tenby.

The frustration began to show on the Tumble side as everything they tried was stopped with stern defence and they were finding it very difficult to get out of their own half as either the Tenby backs cut them to shreds or Turbo used the boot to pin them back.

With 22 minutes played and the Seasiders looking like favourites, another offence on Tumble's part meant the Lewis penalty put United 11-6 in front.

The Tenby pack were now playing with enjoyment and, after they drove the Tumble scrum back once and demolished it on a further two occasions on the five-metre line, where it collapsed under the relentless United pressure, the referee awarded a penalty try, which Lewis duly converted to put the Seasiders 18-6 ahead after 25 minutes.

The next score was a Tumble penalty on the half-hour mark after an offside offence in midfield.

However, this didn't seem to faze the Seasiders as they hit back almost immediately when prop Robert Clarke received the ball on one wing and smashed deep into the Tumble defence, setting up quality ball with the help of Guymer, Britts, Richards and Dedman. Scarfe then got the ball out to the backs, with Toby Smith again gaining the yards, along with Meyrick and Guerreiro, who were strong all day in attack and defence. The ball went through almost every pair of Tenby hands until Nicky Guymer threw a now trademark lofted pass to... you would never have guessed... Rob Clarke, who popped up on the opposite wing to score in the corner.

Unfortunately, he also managed to earn himnself a four-week 'holiday' by breaking his hand in the process.

Tenby went in a half-time leading 23-9.

At the interval, Sheriff Guymer rallied the troops and they came out for the second half confident and began to play much the same game, with Mark Brace on for Clarke who was nursing his broken wing.

The Seasiders looked the dominant side, although Tumble did seem to gain confidence when they brought all four subs on after 10 minutes, and these older players seemed to boost their spirits as they began to challenge with a bit more aggression.

Despite the Seasiders attacking well through forwards and backs, they didn't manage to break the home side down and after a loose ball was pounced on by a Tumble defender, they went on a quick attack and made it into the Tenby 22, where Dai Meyrick made what everyone believed to be a try-saving tackle, except for the referee that is, who awarded the touchdown. The try went unconverted.

Tumble scored another try two minutes later when a well-worked backs move paid off and they crashed in for a converted try, despite stern tackling from Aled Bowen and Simon Stanford.

It was then a case of de ja vu as Tumble created another well-worked move and their winger managed to get away down the touchline. A huge cover tackle by Guerreiro right on the corner flag seemed to be enough to stop the score, but the decision went to the home side's appointed linesman in a 50/50 call, and the try was given. Again it went unconverted.

The final whistle then sounded and the disappointment was clear to see on the Seasiders' faces after playing so well and dominating every area of the game. Nevertheless, credit must go to them for such a good performance.

Tenby United entertain local rivals Cardigan at Heywood Lane tomorrow (Saturday) in a Division Three West derby clash and all are urged to make the effort and go along and support the boys and help them win this important fixture.

The United will take many positives out of last Saturday's game and have been working hard on the training field this week.

All players, old and new, are welcome to join the ever-growing Seasiders' squad and training takes place at 7 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays at Heywood Lane.

Tenby fielded: Aled Brown, Simon Stanford, Dai Meyrick, Toby Smith, Jack Guerreiro (Barrie John), Tom Lewis, Jason Scarfe, Justin Richards, Richard Rossiter, Andrew Cooke (Jo Lewis), Lourens Britts, Luke Dedman, Geoff Martin, Nicky Guymer (capt), Rob Clarke (Mark Brace), James Criddle.