Tenby just pipped at the post (From Western Telegraph)

Tenby just pipped at the post

Tenby United 10 Birchgrove 23

A try at the start of each half by centre Matthew Morgan gave Birchgrove victory at Heywood Lane and gave his side revenge over Tenby for a 33-32 reverse when the Seasiders travelled to Swansea earlier in the season.

Both tries were converted by fly half Justin Evans, who also landed two penalties and a drop goal, and condemned Tenby to a defeat in a match that saw them hold their own in most phases of the game.

This was definitely a match that coach Gary Price had targeted as a key six-pointer and his squad was boosted by three former players in Sean Brace (playing at full back on dual registration from Llanelli under 21s), winger Steve Hartland (on dual registration from Whitland) and Dean Hadley, slotting in at No 8 on permit from Milford Haven.

Hadley, currently the Milford coach and with only three games under his belt after a two-year absence because of injury, battled really hard and helped give Tenby a little more dog up front but Sean Brace was rarely given the chance to exert his considerable influence from full back because the other home backs were unable to put him into spaces.

Hartland joined the fray as flanker replacement for Justin Richards and reverted to his regular wing position after ten minutes of the second half when Neil Powling went off, Mike Evans coming on and lifting the tempo. But even Evans considerable presence alongside Nicky Allen wasnt enough and although the Seasiders managed one try they were unable to turn a lot of territorial advantage into further tries as Birchgroves defence was well organised by skipper Steve Germaine at No 8 and centres Morgan and Jonathan Rico Rees.

It was Morgan who opened the scoring after only four minutes as Tenby attacked into the wind but had a chip over the top charged down on the Birchgrove 22. Morgan was onto the loose ball in a flash and showed his footballing skills as he retained possession for a further three touches before just beating a desperate lunge by Dean Bowen to claim a touch down which was converted by fly half Justin Evans.

It was a body blow for Tenby but they came back immediately as drives by Hadley, Paul Broaders and busy prop Lee Tucker earned them a close-range penalty which Neil Powling kicked with ease.

Morgan set up another Birchgrove attack with a sharp run that allowed Justin Evans a drop goal attempt which sailed wide - and the fly half was off target straight away as referee Mark Williams awarded a penalty since little advantage had accrued when Tenby were offside.

From the drop-out, however, Birchgrove retained possession and Evans dropped a neat goal from a sharp pass by partner Mike Clement - and Evans also added a penalty near half time after Tenby had used Tucker for a string of drives alongside Richard Rossiter and Hadley in attacks that came to nought as wrong options or failure to retain possession cost the Seasiders dearly.

With the breeze marginally in their favour after the break, Tenby looked capable of coming back but were hit by ten points in the opening five minutes, starting with another Evans penalty after two minutes and then Morgans second try after a poor low pass by Rico Rees gave him problems. A knock-on seemed inevitable but Morgan used his boot instead of his hands, the ball flew perfectly into the Tenby 22 at an oblique angle and Morgan was again able to beat the cover defence to score a try which Evans converted.

At 23-3 Tenby looked shell-shocked but with Hartland joining Sean Brace in raids down the left flank they gradually settled to a series of attacks orchestrated by Evans and Nicky Allen.

Hartland went close at the posts and after a Sean Brace outside loop both Hartland and Brace were denied in the left corner.

But after 18 minutes the Tenby effort was finally rewarded with a try as fly half Dean Bowen dummied a pass to his centres and crashed over near the posts, doing well to hold on in the heavy impact caused by two tacklers and slotting the conversion as a bonus.

A neat chip to the left corner by centre Gavin Brace gave the Seasiders another platform but they lost the ball under a concerted shove by Birchgrove and another chance went a-begging, as it did later when the homesters set up six successive rucks in the shadow of the Birchgrove posts but werent able to pop up the ball in the tackle to put someone in the clear.

Hartland and Brace were both involved, as were Matt Cammack, Paul Broaders, Tucker and Richard Rossiter - but good covering by Simon Hopkins, Des McCrill and Lee Mainwaring helped their back row of Germaine, Will Fisher and Harry Morgan keep out the Tenby thrusts.

The Seasiders were clearly shattered by the final result but Birchgrove found their match-winner in centre Matthew Morgan, whose dribbling skills proved the only real difference between two that gave their all in heavy conditions.