Tired Tenby pay the price (From Western Telegraph)

Tired Tenby pay the price

Rugby Division Three (West) Tenby United 19 Tumble 27 Tenby United paid the price for having played Haverfordwest and Whitland in titanic clashes over the previous seven days, as they looked a tired outfit against an aggressive Tumble side which took its chances in a spell just before, and after, the break.

The Seasiders were still 5-0 up after 38 minutes but trailed 22-7 eight minutes into the second period as Tumble grabbed a converted try just before the oranges, and another two soft tries soon after the restart that owed more to Tenby lethargy than Tumble finesse.

Yet Tenby started well and they were good value for their early lead, as quick hands by Neil Powling and Mark Hayward put Dan Shooter away on the right, the winger brushing aside his marker to cross wide out.

Gareth Thomas missed a long-range penalty for Tumble, and Tenby might have increased their lead when Scott McLaughlin intercepted and kicked ahead - and was clearly impeded as he tried to follow up but the referee was unsighted.

Tumble grabbed a 7-5 interval lead though as a clever chip to the corner by fly half Dylan Hughes allowed winger Phil Griffiths to touch down in the corner and Thomas landed the wide-angled conversion.

The second half started really badly for the Seasiders as Thomas notched a left-footed drop goal, and when another drop goal attempt floated short and wide it allowed alert centre Steve Hewitt to follow up and poach the try from under Tenby noses.

Even worse was to follow, because within minutes another ball fell loose over the Seasiders' line and as a defender completely missed it there was a simple try for winger Nicky Alison that Thomas again converted from the touch-line.

Scott McLaughlin went close for Tenby and when Tumble prop Matthew Jones was sin-binned the home team reduced the deficit when good work by skipper Nicky Allen and Anthony Griffiths allowed replacement forward Rob James to crash through at the posts for Powling to convert.

But they conceded a second try to centre Hewitt from the kick-off as they conceded one of many turn-overs for centre Hewitt to crash through for a try.

To be fair to the Seasiders, however, they kept plugging away until the final whistle as they scored a late try from Dan Shooter that McLaughlin converted superbly from the touch-line. But it was too little, too late, for the Seasiders as Tumble pocketed the points and left Tenby reflecting on what might have been.

Tenby United were sponsored by Broughton Caravan Sales, Yerbeston. The match balls were sponsored by Mr Matt Goldwait, Mr and Mrs David Robins, whilst the Tenby United mascot was Luke Barrow.