Gorseinon 34 - Tenby United 12: With December a very active rugby month compared to November, FBM sponsored Tenby United travelled to the Welfare Ground to face a Gorseinon side smarting from a 23-3 defeat last week up at Crymych, which followed two defeats in the only games they played throughout October and November.

So with similar expectations to Tenby, the cherry and whites not surprisingly elected to kick-off taking full advantage of the strong 50 mph wind. The kick was well fielded, but the breakdown that followed saw the home side offered their first opportunity to trouble the scoreboard operators with a penalty as scrum-half Jack Gronow slotted his first kick of the afternoon giving Gorseinon a very early lead at 3-0.

If that was not a bad enough start, things got progressively worse for Tenby as they just could not get up to playing speed soon enough and, because of their slow start, leaked two tries in as many minutes, with initially number eight Cameron Collis going over as the United defence was stretched to breaking point, quickly followed by livewire scrum-half Jack Gronow, who ignored a two-man overlap outside him, to slice through for a good team try. He capitalised on the bright start for the cherry and whites by converting both tries and Tenby were now facing a massive uphill (or more appropriately against wind) battle, being 17-0 down.

To their credit, Tenby dug deep to gain some possession and momentum, with scrum-half Matt Morgan prominent, supported by centres Jack Parkinson and Moritz Neumann, along with forwards Ethan Morgan, Mike Davis, Luke Hansford, Jack Broadhurst and Jason Ronowitz, but as the ball went forward at the breakdown, the efforts yielded nothing.

With the wind strengthening as the game progressed, Aaron James tried to run the ball out of defence as his previously attempted clearance kicks had either gained nothing and in some cases lost ground, but his progress was halted as he ran into a solid home defence.

From the scrum that followed, Gorseinon increased their lead, with scrum-half Jack Gronow feeding his fly-half with quick ball and simply looping around him to take a return pass and feed supporting number eight Sam Haycock, who went over unopposed from a try right off the training paddock, and a substantial 24-0 lead.

As with the initial bout of scoring, there was more to follow as Gorseinon took a ball against the head at the next scrum, with number eight Sam Haycock breaking from the scrum and simply passing the ball to Geraint Morgan, who slid over wide out for a fourth and bonus point try and the game all but won.

Despite being on the verge of a right hammering, the Tenby side rallied, again led by Matthew Morgan, with excellent support from Moritz Neumann, Luke Hansford, skipper Luke Dedman and Tom Barrass, with Aaron James and Jason Ronowitz making inroads into the Gorseinon half. This attacking phase was maintained, aided at times by a home side who were in ‘game won’ mode (as well as pocketing their additional try bonus point), but with Rob Luly and Yannic Parker also getting more involved, the home side could not relax too much or too early.

With half-time approaching, Gorseinon stepped up a gear and the half ended with Tenby being tested to prevent any additional score, which they did, with some bone crunching tackles being put in and stopping any of the home side’s large forwards from crossing the whitewash.

With the home side restarting the game, they soon experienced what it was like playing into the prevailing wind as the ball sailed towards the Tenby 22, only to be sent back to the 10-metre line and hit the ground inches in play.

Tenby recovered the ball and Aaron James sent the home side scurrying back deep into their 22 with a huge spiralling clearance kick - totally the right tactics for the second half.

Half-backs Morgan and James were applying the correct tactics, taking into account the favourable windy conditions, ably supported by Tom Barrass and Moritz Neumann, but Gorseinon reminded Tenby what a threat they were and it took a last-gasp desperate covering tackle by Luke Hansford to prevent a try, with the line beckoning.

Gorseinon were obviously getting frustrated with their lack of scoring opportunities and gave away a string of penalties awarded by referee Simon Davies, a few of which, keeping the home side on the back foot, were quickly taken by number nine Morgan and their frustration eventually boiled over with referee Davies dishing out a yellow card for deliberately knocking the ball on to prevent a pass.

Taking full advantage of this numerical player bonus, it was Tenby who repeated the scoring in quick time routine, with first Jordan Asparassa benefiting from some slick handling to cross wide out, to be followed by replacement Huw Evans, who scored in the same corner following good approach work by Jack Parkinson, Jack Broadhurst and Jordan Asparassa (who was brought down just short of the line). This try was superbly converted by Aaron James narrowing the scores to 29-12... and game on.

Gorseinon brought on some fresh players to bolster their flagging XV and put a stop to the momentum that Tenby were building, which was repeated by Tenby with Dan Thomas, Jack Davies and Wes Bonser all joining the fray, but it was the home side who reaped the benefit from the changes as a dropped ball was hacked on and winger Rhodri Phelps scooped it up and scored wide out, stretching the lead to 34-12.

Despite the United’s efforts in the last quarter of the match - played in the gathering gloom and darkness - a 29-0 half-time deficit had simply proved too big an ask and the try by Phelps was probably the last nail in the coffin, with Tenby ending the match on the attack, but with nothing else to show for their gutsy second half efforts other than another defeat.

From talking to coach Jonathan Evans after the match, he thought that on a positive note the set-piece had improved, but losing the ball too frequently at the breakdown needed to be addressed, as do the ball handling skills. With two local derbies to be faced before the New Year, a huge improvement in both is essential if Tenby are to come away with anything.

He acknowledged that the wind was a factor in this game, but accepted it was the same for Gorseinon - and the error count difference was significantly higher for Tenby. He also accepted that the loss of both back row forwards, Luke Hansford and Jason Ronowitz, had a significant impact on the team, happening at critical times in the match.

Tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon, in a match sponsored by FBM, Tenby entertain local rivals Crymych RFC at Heywood Lane, with adults brought along by their children gaining free access to the ground… club colours would also be appreciated by all attending. Despite standings in the league, these games are usually tight affairs and all players involved go all out for victory, with local bragging rights at stake.

Tenby fielded: Yannic Parker, Jordan Asparassa, Jack Parkinson, Moritz Neumann, Conner Ennis (Dan Thomas 60), Aaron James, Matthew Morgan, Ethan Morgan, Tom Barrass, Rob Luly (Jack Davies 60), Luke Dedman (capt.), Mike Davis, Luke Hansford (Wes Bonser 55), Jack Broadhurst, Jason Ronowitz (Huw Evans 40).