Under 9s Welcome Touring Side

After a disappointing result in the festival last Sunday, Tenby Swifts Under 9s dusted themselves off and welcomed touring side Rumney to The Clicketts.

Captained by Will Hilling, Tenby were keen to get back into winning ways. Madoc Evans was once again commanding the attacking line and Evan Christen led the way in defence with some gutsy tackling.

Logan Hall, who is new to the sport, keeps improving week after week with another impressive game and gave the opposition a headache with his blistering speed. Oli Tucker, Iestyn Barrellie, Thomas Prince and Ethan Lewis used their size and strength to not only bash through the Rumney defence, but to also keep the attacking plays at bay.

In attack, future stars Rhys Barnes and Alex Stock ran all over the opposition, with Rhys picking up a well-deserved hat-trick.

An all round good performance from Tenby and Rumney gave them a good game, with the final score going Tenby’s way 14-13.

Try scorers were: Rhys Barnes (3), Logan Hall (2), Madoc Evans (2), Eli Owen, Iestyn Barrellie, George McDonald, Ethan Lewis, Alex Stock, Oli Tucker and Evan Christen.

Man of the match went to Madoc Evans.

UNDER 10s

Last Sunday, Tenby United Under 10s (pictured below) travelled away to play Pembroke Dock Quins.

The opening try of the game came within a minute of the kick-off. The Seasiders came out firing and it was Jayden who was to charge through to score the first try of the morning.

The next try was to come quickly after. Ball won on the floor by the Tenby forwards provided the platform for it to be spun out wide and allow Alfie to run over to score his first.

From the restart, the Seasiders were once again quick to secure the ball, this time a determined run by Rhys saw him cut through the Quins defence to score.

Tenby were looking strong and momentum was fully with them. Continued pressure was turning into mistakes by the Quins and allowing the Seasiders to gain vital possession. This pressure was soon to be rewarded with another try, this time with an injection of pace from Alfie, giving him the space to cross for his second.

Tenby’s forwards continued to work hard to control possession and try five for the Seasiders came after Jayden ripped the ball from Quins hands and Rocco showed great strength to charge through a wall of Quins defence to score.

The game for Tenby was being played at a fast pace, so when some substitutes were made, the fresh legs of Owen, once in possession of the ball, saw him cross in the corner for try six for the Seasiders.

It was at this point in the half the Quins showed some good strength to push Tenby back and, after a number of phases of play, were rewarded with their first try of the morning.

From the restart, Tenby were to reply straightaway and before the Quins had time to react, Lewis stormed over the try line.

The next points scoring opportunity came when the Seasiders took advantage of some loose ball on their own try line to regain possession and it was to be Owen who saw a gap and took the opportunity to run the length of the pitch to score.

The Quins once again started to put together some runs of their own, but a try-saving tackle into touch by Lucy stopped their charge forward and instead turned the possession back to the Seasiders and this time it was Rowen who created the space with some quick feet to break through the defensive line and run in for his first try.

This was promptly followed by another strong run by Jayden who crashed over the line for his second.

The Quins were determined to show what they could do, though, and after a strong run up the centre of the field, crossed for their second score.

It was the Seasiders who would finish the first half as they started, though, with a score in the corner and hat-trick try for Owen. Half-time score was 55-10 to Tenby.

With play up hill in the second half for Tenby, they were determined to keep running the ball and scoring tries. The opening try of the half came when a fantastic individual effort from Alfie saw him slice through the Quins defence to score.

The Quins were quick to reply with a strong push forward from the restart allowing them to gain good field position and be rewarded with their third try.

Tenby were looking impressive as a team, though, all working well and supporting each other. This meant ball was staying in their hands and finding space out wide.

A perfectly timed pass by Rhys would give Alfie his next opportunity to find the space to cross the try line and minutes later it was to be Alfie again who crossed for another after a strong run by Lucy moved the Seasiders onto the Quins try line and provided the space for Alfie to score.

The forwards were impressive in their battle for the ball on the floor and hard work by Rocco and Alex allowed for another opportunity for Owen to cross for try number 15 for the Seasiders.

The next try came when quick hands allowed the ball to once again reach Alfie on the wing, who turned on his unstoppable pace to cross the Quins try line.

Tenby forwards continued to push the Quins onto their own try line and force them to defend hard. But a surge forward by Jayden allowed Lewis to gain the space to power over the try line again.

Tenby continued to fight for control of the ball at every opportunity. It would be Rhys next to stand his ground in the breakdown and gain the ball back for the Seasiders and give Jayden another opportunity to cross for his third.

With the seconds counting down on a convincing win for Tenby, it was to be Alfie W who would finish the game with a determined run to push over the Quins try line one last time and have the game end with a 95-15 win for Tenby.

Fantastic game by all players. Well done.

UNDER 11s

Semi-final of the cup and the Seasiders meet their nemesis, Haverfordwest! They are always a tough opponent, but this match had a huge amount of pressure behind it and the atmosphere was tense, both on the pitch and along the sidelines!

With 16 Tenby squad members eager to play and 12-a-side, it was an electric and highly intense opening few minutes, with both teams eager to put their stamp on the game. With every player working really hard, it was a major blow, therefore, to find out the referee hadn’t actually realised where the try line had been marked out and, despite Tenby grounding the ball twice, the try wasn’t given!

Thankfully, the black and reds persevered and were this time justly rewarded with Eddie breaking through to officially find the try line this time! Despite an uncharacteristic conversion miss by Ieuan, it was still still first blood to Tenby.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before Haverfordwest replied and scored their answering try and with a successful conversion, taking a slim lead.

Taking the impetus forward from this, Haverfordwest started to dominate the game and the initial cohesion Tenby had displayed started to fall apart. Despite some fabulous individual performances by the host team, they started to lose their communication and structure, giving Haverfordwest too many opportunities to find the space and break through the defence.

Indeed, the visitors didn’t need any second invitations and they quickly scored multiple tries, crushing Tenby’s hopes of reaching the final of the cup.

Nevertheless, Tenby did themselves proud and kept fighting hard, Eddie finding the try line a second time, with a successful conversion by Ieuan, but unfortunately it was simply too little too late, and the final score read 50-12.

This big defeat was in no way reflective of the work rate displayed by the Tenby squad, however, and the players can hold their heads high and be proud of trying their best. It was simply a case of lack of cohesion that didn’t convert those efforts and individual performances into points on the board. Next year however...!?!?!

Tenby’s squad: Eddie, Ollie, Rhys S, Jacob, Keaton, Rhydain, Iwan, Cody, George, Tom W, Cemlyn, Fin, Rhys E, Deri, Ieuan and Dan.

Under 12s

Last weekend saw Tenby Swifts Under 12s (seen above) play their eagerly anticipated Pembrokeshire Cup semi-final against near neighbours Pembroke.

These two teams have had some great battles over the past few seasons and a large expectant crowd at Heywood Lane was not to be disappointed.

The home team won the toss to kick-off, but were soon under pressure as a number of penalties saw Pembroke make good ground deep into the Swifts’ half.

However, this Swifts team is renowned for their watertight defence and held their line intact. As turnover ball was won by the forward pack, the home team made their way up field and a midfield break saw the ball spread wide for Fletcher to dance his way over the line for an unconverted try.

The rest of the half was very tight, with great contests for the ball seeing a lot of the game played around the middle of the park. But with half-time approaching, some fine forward drives by Kyle, Josh and Duane-Lee saw the away defence broken and the backs spotted space to put Max over out wide for the second score, which went converted to leave the half-time score 12-0.

The second half began at the same pace as the first, with both teams giving it their all. Pembroke made a super break which led to the ball being fed out wide for their speedy winger to beat the cover defence to reduce the arrears to 12-5.

With the game so close, both teams knew that the next score would be vital and it came the Swifts way as turnover ball won again by the forwards saw fine continuity by the home team and the backs ran an excellent pre-planned move to give space to Iori, who sidestepped his way to beat the last two defenders out wide on the touchline and canter under the posts for a try which he converted.

As the minutes ticked away and as much as they tried, Pembroke could not break down the Swifts’ defensive line and the referee blew the final whistle to bring the game to a close, a jubilant Tenby Swifts coming out on top and progressing to the final by 19 points to five.

It was a pulsating game played in great spirit by both sides and a fine advert for junior rugby in Pembrokeshire.

Tenby Swifts team (pictured after the match in changing rooms) was: Kyle, Iorri R, Cameron, Josh, Freddie, Joe, Fletcher, Duane-Lee, Harri, Iori B, Max J, Dylan, Cairan, Alex, Archie, Jake, Max H, Miller and Tristan.

UNDER 15s Power

to Cup Final

Tenby Under 15s (seen below) entertained Pembroke Dock in the semi-final of the Pembrokeshire Cup at The Clicketts last Sunday. Despite a solid win against this opposition earlier in the season, the team were warned not to be complacent as this was the cup and you only get one chance.

Tenby were on the front foot from the kick-off when a knock-on and penalty from the Dock led to a lineout 10 yards out. A catch and drive led to captain Lewis Morgan claiming the first score. Alex Wainwright converted from wide out.

Next to score was Josh Done who showed the defence a clean pair of heels after some slick handling - Wainwright again converted.

To Pembroke Dock’s credit, their heads did not drop and Tenby had to defend hard for a 10-minute period whilst everything was thrown at them.

Tenby were winning the breakdown contest and a turnover ball enabled Wainwright to clear his lines. A splendid team move led to Charlie Sangster being freed out wide and his well-timed inside pass was taken by Archie Hughes ,who dived over. The mercurial Wainwright again converted from out wide.

Meru Hughes had been having a fine game, but was forced off after a collision to be replaced by Will Kennington.

An excellent backs move resulted in the next try when slight of hand from Tom Hawkins and Josh Done freed Wainwright to score out wide - the conversion again followed.

Another catch and drive was neatly finished by captain Morgan, with Wainwright adding his sixth conversion.

Tenby were running the ball at every opportunity - interplay between forwards and backs led to hooker Harvey Drummond racing clear and scoring for 15 yards out.

The half-time whistle went and it was Tenby 47 Pembroke Dock 0.

Tenby knew they were one score from the final and they soon made space for Wainwright to beat a couple of would-be defenders to score under the posts. The conversion was given to Jay Williams and a loud cheer greeted the successful conversion.

Final score Tenby 54 Pembroke Dock 0.

The final is to be played at Haverfordwest RFC on May 6 against Crymych, who beat Aberaeron in the other semi-final.