Tenby United 45 pts.

Pembroke Dock HARLEQuins 19

With the autumn internationals underway and no league fixtures scheduled, it was Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup round one at Heywood Lane on Saturday as Andrew Price, FBM Holidays and Molson Coors sponsored Tenby Ubited's 1st XV entertained local rivals Pembroke Dock Quins.

Even with Wales playing in the afternoon, which meant an 11 am kick-off, there were plenty of supporters in attendance from both sides, who had turned out to witness what was sure to be a game that would live up to the traditionally 'competitive' and hard fought encounter that both Tenby and Pembroke Dock players have become used to.

The playing surface was in excellent condition and it was hard to think that it had been subjected to the torrential downpours that hit the area during the days leading up to the game, and with little wind and the sun shining, the Seasiders were keen to play their normal expansive game.

With Quins outside-half Jonathan Rogers getting the game underway with the kick-off, an over-eager United forward took his eye off the ball and spilled it forward. This meant that the two packs could lock horns and contest the first scrummage.

The powerful Tenby eight managed to get the better of their opponents, turning the Quins and making sure that they didn't get anything near to clean ball. Scrum-half Will Crockford was all over his opposite number, wrapping up man and ball in the tackle, with lively number eight Roy Osborn turning the ball over and regaining possession for the Seasiders. Crockford got the ball straight out to Toby Smith, who drew two defenders, before offloading to fullback Aled Bowen, who hit the line with enough pace to break the tackle attempt and canter in for the first score of the game, which went unconverted, putting his side five-nil ahead after just two minutes of rugby.

The feeling around the ground was that this was to be a walk in the park for the Division Three West side, but this was not to be the case as the agressive Quins came straight back at the Seasiders with multiple attacks of their own, directed by number 10 Rogers, putting United on the back foot, but not quite managing to break the defensive line thanks to some fine tackling from Jack Guerreiro and his centre partner Dan Colley, along with the flanker partnership of Wyndham Williams and Luke Hansford.

The excitement of the derby seemed to get a little too much as Quins number eight Gareth Scourfield was shown the yellow card by referee Adrian Slade after he blatantly tripped a Tenby defender.

Toby Smith put the penalty kick deep into touch, but the Quins managed to get their hands on a scrappy lineout ball, giving Rogers the chance of a drop goal, which he managed, reducing the gap to 5-3.

The game was certainly coming to life, with both teams trying to move the ball wide, and a few handling errors from the Seasiders meant that the Quins' tails went up and their confidence began to grow.

No matter how much they tried, though, they were still unable to breach United's line thanks to the stern defence of the whole Tenby side.

This caused frustration and things were beginning to get a little ugly, with multiple off-the-ball scuffles creeping into the game.

Pembroke Dock took the lead on half-an-hour when Seasiders' prop Lyndon Jones was shown Slade's yellow card after being unable to roll away quick enough after a tackle. Rogers slotted the penalty, giving Quins the lead, six points to five.

Through the reality of being behind with half-time looming, the Seasiders seemed to come to life, and courtesy of second row Luke Dedman pinching a Quins lineout throw, Crockford sent the ball wide to Osborn, who broke a tackle and made ground into the heart of the opposition and got it out to Toby Smith, whose quick hands put nippy winger Simon Stanford into space.

Stanford stormed down the touchline, beating two defenders with ease, to cross for the try in the corner, which again went unconverted, but gave the Seasiders the lead again, 10-9, on 35 minutes.

Rogers answered this with another well-struck Quins penalty after an offence at a scrum, closing the gap to just a point and also closing an eventful first half with the Division Five West side still well and truly in the game.

The Seasiders came out of the interval much more focused and determined to gain and keep control of this game, which they had to win if they were to stand any chance of retaining the Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup which they had won last season, when they had also beaten the Quins on their way to the final against Aberystwyth.

Whatever head coach Gareth Thomas had said to them seemed to be working as flanker Hansford crossed the line after just four minutes of play, scoring his first try for United. Hansford's try came after Toby Smith intelligently took a quick penalty after noticing just one Pembroke Dock defender was at home on the narrow side and, on drawing him in, was able to release Hansford, who went over in the corner for the try, which Bowen effortlessly converted, despite it being right on the touchline.

Rogers again answered with a penalty, keeping his side in the game with the score 17 to 12 in favour of the Seasiders.

Tenby brought replacement Dai Meyrick onto the wing on 45 minutes instead of the injured Stanford and he was straight into the action, making a big tackle on a Quins forward and disrupting the ball.

Hooker Guymer and prop Johnny Palmer, along with flankers Osborn and Williams, were on the scene quickly to turn the ball over and Crockford got it to acting skipper and second row Gareth Edwards, who spotted a gap and after a Phil Bennett style side-step, cantered in unopposed from 40 yards out, touching town under the posts for the try which Bowen converted with ease to put the United ahead 24 points to 12.

On 50 minutes, Tenby rang the changes, with Rob Fairlie coming on at hooker for the well-played Guymer, Jason Ronowitz into the back row for Hansford and Ashley Bonser also into the back row for flanker Williams after a fine all-round game from the veteran.

Tenby were soon to be down to 14 men, though, as Bonser was shown the yellow card just two minutes after coming on.

As the game went into the last 25 minutes, Heywood Lane erupted, with both teams involved in a rumble which resulted in the referee dismissing both United's Ronowitz and Quins captain Scourfield with a red card each.

Tenby also lost prop Palmer on 60 minutes following an injury to his foot, meaning that the auburn moustached Robert Clarke was on in his place.

The Quins managed to break the home defence on 62 minutes when sustained pressure created a gap for Damo Miller to go through to score.

Rogers converted the try to put the Quins within five points of United.

The Seasiders, however, really took control of the game in the final 20 minutes, showing glimpses of the stylish rugby that they have been entertaining their supporters with all season with a further three tries. The first went to Osborn, which Bowen converted, while next on the scoresheet was Toby Smith, after managing to break his way through five or six defenders to scamper in for the touchdown, which Bowen again converted.

Last over the line and probably for the most deserved score of the game was scrum-half Corckford, who had led from the front all day in a difficult game; this came after superb pressure from Colley and Guerreiro turned the ball over from the Quins and Crockford got it to Smith, who gave it back to him on the visitors' 22-metre line.

Neither the distance he had to cover to score or the two defenders were going to stop him rounding off an excellent performance at scrum-half with the try.

Bowen ended the game with the conversion, helping the Seasiders run out winners by 45 points to 19.

Tenby United 1st XV will welcome Newcastle Emlyn to Heywood Lane tomorrow (Saturday) in the league, with kick off at 2.30 pm, so please come along to support the boys.

The 2nd XV also welcome Emlyn and they kick-off at the same time down at the Clicketts.