Tenby United 27 pts. Haverfordwest 5

Kicking-off in glorious conditions on a splendid Heywood Lane pitch, against local rivals Haverfordwest, Andrew Price, Molson Coors and FBM Holidays sponsored Tenby United were totally focused on avenging their Pembrokeshire Cup defeat from last year, while at the same time intent on coming away with a win and try bonus point to maintain their top position in the league, and despite an indifferent first half, and a whistle happy referee, came away with the spoils against a ragged, but determined Haverfordwest outfit.

The first five minutes of the game consisted of the usual ping-pong kicking while the two sides tested out each other, but a mistimed inside pass gave Haverfordwest an opportunity to attack, but the Tenby defence held firm and a knock-on brought the move to an abrupt end. The visitors had the opportunity to grab a surprise lead, but Michael Jones was way off target with his first penalty attempt.

The scrum was quickly developing into an area Tenby could use as a springboard to attack from, as the visitors eight were destroyed each time they packed down and number eight Sam Smith took every opportunity to show Haverfordwest what to expect if they didn't sort their scrum out. Several sorties from the set-piece were attempted, with Jack Guerreiro, Dan Colley and hooker Gareth Jones leading the way, backed up by skipper Chris James, Aled Bowen and a hard-working Jason Ronowitz and it came as no surprise that from a penalty awarded for offside, scrum-half Jonathan Rogers took Tenby into a three-point lead with the aid of the post - an assist that was not to be repeated as the afternoon progressed!

An excellent kick and chase by wing Dan Colley put Haverfordwest under more pressure and with the home side dominating procession, it was only aimless kicking, sloppy passes or a knock-on that prevented any further score. Even when they had an opportunity to double the lead, the post failed to help Jonathan Rogers as this time his attempt bounced back into play and the visitors cleared their line.

The next promising attack followed an excellent lineout win by Chris James, with Sam Smith carrying on the move and linking with Jason Ronowitz, but a final pass, putting centre Dai Meyrick clear, was deemed by referee Phillips to be forward.

Resolute defending by Haverfordwest, backed by some inept and unstructured play by Tenby, frustratingly kept the score at 3-0 and the nearest the visitors got to getting on the scoreboard was a second failed penalty attempt by Michael Jones.

The first half was brought to an end with a series of moves that sort of summed up the first 40 minutes, with Tenby somehow failing to turn several clear scoring opportunities into tries, and as referee Phillips blew for half-time, it was Haverfordwest who took their oranges pleased with efforts, while Tenby could only contemplate what could have/should have happened.

Whatever was said at half-time by coaches Gareth Thomas and Sion Brace had the desired effect as a different Tenby XV started the second half, quickly setting up several attacking opportunities deep in the visitors' half and it came as no surprise to see industrious flanker Jason Ronowitz power over the line as part of a catch and drive move from a lineout. Following a pattern that had been set in the first half, Jonathan Rogers saw his conversion attempt bounce off the post - again.

Maintaining their new-found momentum, Tenby quickly added to their score when a kick through and chase from a dropped Haverfordwest pass, ended with centre Dai Meyrick beating a couple of defenders to the rolling ball for an opportunist try.

Breaking the kicking trend, scrum-half Jonathan Rogers avoided the posts and put the home side into a commanding 15-0 lead.

Despite knocking on from the restart, Tenby recaptured possession from the advantage allowed by referee Phillips when it was Haverfordwest's turn to cough up the ball and Lloyd Thomas, who had a very tidy game, sent the visitors back towards their goal-line with a huge clearance kick.

With their confidence now fully recovered and established, and playing in a more structured manner, Tenby continued to challenge and stretch what was becoming a tiring and hard pressed Haverfordwest defence, and slick handling involving backs and forwards put fullback Aled Bowen clear to gallop under the sticks for the third try of the half.

With the two points added by Jonathan Rogers, taking the score out to 22-0, the home side could now go in search of that valuable fourth try and a bonus point, with 20 minutes of the match still to play.

Play was interrupted as the last quarter progressed with referee Phillips harshly yellow-carding prop Jonny Palmer, several stoppages for injuries and a spate of player changes on both sides taking place, which somewhat slowed the momentum necessary to clinch the 'wished for' fourth try.

Not to be robbed, however, Tenby re-established supremacy with some classic hard yards running by man-of-the-match skipper Chris James (who led by example), his second row partner Luke Dedman and the industrious back row of Jason Ronowitz, Patrick Roberts and Sam Smith and only a fine covering tackle on Dai Meyrick prevented a try in the corner.

Maintaining the pressure, the Tenby eight totally disrupted a Haverfordwest throw-in close to their line and livewire hooker Gareth Jones crashed over wide out for the well-earned fourth try bonus point. The posts came into play yet again as the ball, so sweetly struck by Jonathan Rogers from the touchline, cannoned off target.

With the game well won, and the final round of replacements made, Tenby relaxed in defence and allowed fullback Craig Barnett to slide in at the corner, perilously close to the touchline. With the conversion attempt sailing wide, the game finished with Tenby well-pleased with the 27-5 victory and a five-point haul to keep them firmly on the top of the Division Three West league table.

With the game on Saturday switched to Heywood Lane to allow the Haverfordwest club to be used for a pre-arranged social function, Tenby are at home again tomorrow (Saturday) against Tumble and will be looking to put in a solid 80-minute performance, with no repeat of the sluggish and error-strewn first 40 minutes witnessed against Haverfordwest. A task the coaching group and skipper James will no doubt enforce at training. The expression 'game of two halves' is often used to describe a match and this was a classic case of just that.

Tenby fielded: Aled Bowen Dan Colley, Dai Meyrick, Jack Guerreiro, Damian Miller, Lloyd Thomas, Jonathan Rogers (Sam Davies), Jonny Palmer, Gareth Jones (Nicky Guymer), Rob Clarke (Rob Fairlie), Luke Dedman, Chris James (capt), Jason Ronowitz (Luke Hansford), Patrick Roberts, Sam Smith.