Whitland 26 pts. Tenby United 17

Despite dominating up front for the full 80 minutes last Saturday, it was a fifth straight league defeat for the Seasiders as they were outscored by local rivals Whitland.

The GD Harries sponsored United were confident that they could go to Whitland and come away with the win, but this was not to be.

The Tenby outfit dominated the forward battle from the start, with the scrum out-muscling their hosts and second rowers Luke Dedman and Rob Weston winning not only their own ball, but securing most of the Whitland throw-ins too, but when they moved the ball, they made too many unforced errors and handed victory to their adversaries on a plate.

The Seasiders opened the scoring when skipper Luke Hansford crashed over off the back of a superbly worked driving lineout which came as a result of a penalty from a dangerous tackle by Borderers second row Jon Gardiner which earned him a yellow card and ultimately cost his side seven points as Hansford’s try was converted by outside-half Toby Smith.

Nico Seataro landed two quick penalties to bring his side back to within a point of the Seasiders, before he put his side in front with a well-worked and self-converted try on the half-hour mark.

Smith brought the United back within three points when his penalty goal sailed through the posts to keep his side in touch at the interval with a score of 13-10.

Within five minutes of the second half, Gardiner was punished further for an offence which the referee deemed worthy of a second yellow card and he was duly given his marching orders with the compulsory red card.

Despite earning most of the possession, the Tenby side couldn’t quite turn their hard work up front into points and it was ill-discipline which was to cost them dearly on the hour when the referee picked up on some back-chat and was forced reverse a penalty he had awarded to them.

The Borderers caught the visitors’ defence napping as centre Aled Thomas took a quick tap and ran in unopposed for a Setaro converted try under the sticks.

Five minutes later, Setaro landed another penalty to put his side 23 points to 10 to the good, before Toby Smith cantered in for a score to put the Seasiders back in the game with three minutes remaining. Aaron James landed the conversion and the visitors were in bonus losing point territory.

This wasn’t enough, though, and the United weren’t happy to settle for anything short of the win and they threw everything they had at the Borderers’ defence, which remained watertight.

The home side battled hard to retain their lead and they were rewarded for their efforts with another Setaro penalty, which left the Seasiders with nothing for their efforts as Whitland sealed the win by a score of 26 points to 17.

The United will be looking to get that elusive win tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel to Division Two West Tycroes in the Swalec Plate competition and will target this game to get their season up and running.

Tenby fielded: Dan Colley, Greg Lees Griffiths (Joe Criddle), Jack Guerreiro, Mark Heywood, Jordan Asparassa (Aaron James), Toby Smith, Dan Thomas, Sam Smith (Harry Bolton), Luke Hansford (capt), Andrew Cooke (Wyndham Williams), Rob Weston, Luke Dedman, Rob Luly (Geoff Martin), Dan Allen, Scott Payne.