Victory for Tenby (From Western Telegraph)

Victory for Tenby

Birchgrove 32 Tenby United 33

Tenby United gained a nail-biting win at Birchgrove which is bound to be a real morale-booster for a club that has had its fair share of down moments of recent times.

They were trailing by 32-26 with time running out but then a good handling movement initiated by Nicky Allen and his back row saw centre Gavin Brace race under the posts, fly half Neil Powling keeping calm as he slotted the all-important conversion which gave the delighted Seasiders their first away win for almost two and a half years.

But it was fully deserved and delighted coach Gary Price told Telegraph Sport shortly afterwards that his players had given their all against a side who are traditionally hard to beat at home.

He was particularly pleased at the way his players refused to submit, despite being in arrears almost throughout the game, but kept fighting hard to remain in contention until those dramatic last moments.

Birchgrove took an early lead with a penalty by Peter Edwards but the Seasiders responded with a try and conversion by Neil Powling to mark his return to his favourite fly half berth.

But Tenby were still behind at the interval as Birchgrove scored a try by lock Denzil Bateman which Edwards converted to go with a second penalty.

The second period saw the home side add further tries from Alan Wilson, Jamie Lowe and Mark Peterson to go with two conversions by Edwards but Tenby kept plugging away and man of the match Powling kept kicking his side forward as well as notching four penalties and the conversion of a try by half back partner Neil Duffy after good work by Paul Broaders, Peter James and Justin Richards.

It gave Powling 23 points and nicely set up a finish where the experience of full back Jonathan Dodd helped keep the Seasiders on an even keel - and hopefully give them the self-belief after this success to keep their heads above water in a tough division.

Tenby United: Jonathan Dodd: Rob Garland; Dean Bowen; Gavin Brace; Oliver Brace: Neil Powling; Neil Duffy: Gareth Noott; Lee Tucker; Mark Badham: Peter James; Paul Broaders: Nicky Allen; Richard Rossiter; Justin Richards. Replacements: Simon Griffiths; Chris Brace.