Hendy 30 - Tenby United 17: After suffering two close local defeats at what is the start of a very challenging season for a team still building from last year, with many new recruits stepping up to Division One level rugby, FBM sponsored Tenby United travelled east to play old rivals Hendy, who were also seeking their first win of the season, having gained promotion to Division one through their excellent performances last year.

However, with the bulky Hendy side stamping their authority on the game from the off, the hoped for win for Tenby was very quickly a lost cause, although they did somewhat recover late in the second half, but the damage was done by then.

Kicking off on what was a still afternoon, Hendy were very quickly penalised by referee Minahan for an infringement at the breakdown which Lloyd Thomas capitalised on by sending the home side back to the halfway line. With Ben Pugh getting scragged handling sloppy ball from the lineout that followed, Hendy were again penalised with this time Thomas sending them back to their 22. This early trend of referee Kerry Minahan penalising the home side was to continue for most of the afternoon, with Hendy players, coaching staff and supporters letting him know, in no uncertain terms, what they thought of his handling of the game and reminding him constantly that there were two teams on the pitch. As the game progressed, their verbals yielded a yellow card for their flanker, as well as one for one of their coaches.

From the first scrum of the game, it became evident that Tenby were going to be in for a torrid time, with the home eight shunting the set-piece skyward and winning the ball, and from the awarded penalty (an award that gave rise to shouts of derision from the home fans), fullback Rhydian Morris, with the help of the posts, gave Hendy a deserved early 3-0 lead.

There then followed a period of attacking running rugby where Tenby needed to be at their very best to prevent Hendy from breaking through, while the United made defending easier for the home side as they were too lateral with their efforts, going from one side of the pitch to the other with little or no forward momentum.

From a quick tap and go at penalty time, Tenby were penalised for not being the necessary 10 metre, but Morris failed to add to the score, while Lloyd Thomas repeated the miss following a penalty award for Tenby.

Through the efforts of Roy Osborn, Luke Dedman, Pat Roberts, Yannic Parker, along with half-backs Lloyd Thomas and Ben Pugh, Tenby threatened to trouble the scoreboard operators, but the Hendy defence held firm and from a long kick and chase, after the ball had been dropped, the home side increased their lead as the United presented them a glorious scoring opportunity.

For some unknown reason, fullback Dan Wainwright decided to run the ball having recovered the Hendy kick through virtually on the Tenby goal line, and was caught up in a tackle made by the chasing home players. From the scrum awarded, the Tenby eight were shunted backwards at a great rate of knots, ending with number eight Aled Thomas dotting the ball down from the base of the scrum.

To make up for his error, and down to Hendy back-chatting at the referee, Wainwright was quickly given the chance to get Tenby on the scoreboard, but his penalty attempt sailed wide.

Wanting to end the half on a high, the home side crafted one or two threatening attacking moves, but the resolute visiting defence held firm... until a score did eventually come with the entire Tenby side standing still and watching. At a lineout on the Tenby 22, the home number eight Thomas ran from the back of the lineout, looping around the front man, and taking the ball thrown in by hooker Batcup to romp over unopposed. Whether or not the ball travelled the necessary five metres or was thrown in straight never entered the head of referee Minahan as he whistled for the try, sending Hendy into the half-time huddle leading 13-0.

Reacting from what would have been stern words at halftime from the coaching staff, Tenby started the second half at pace, with wing Jordan Asparassa just getting hauled down inches short of the Hendy line, which was quickly followed by Asparassa (again) and Wainwright combining to test the home defence. This bout of attacking brought on more ‘chopsing’ from the Hendy players and a penalty was awarded, but Thomas again failed, with his attempt falling short. Unhappy with the performance of the referee, and loudly letting him be aware of his feelings, one of the Hendy coaching staff was ordered from the playing area by Mr. Minahan.

With changes in the scrum, Jack Davies coming on as prop to replace the beleaguered Jack Broadhurst, with Broadhurst switching to flank to replace the injured Jason Ronowitz, the Tenby eight were at last faring better at scrum time. Shortly after, young Max Brindley was replaced, with Mike Davis switching to flank from the second row and Charlie Patching joining the fray slotting in at second row.

Hendy, however, continued to press to add to their lead and a scrum from a knock-on gave them the platform they needed close to the Tenby line and taking the final pass from a move that was just too good for the United defence, number eight Thomas crashed through for his third try of the afternoon, and with Morris successful with the conversion, Hendy were now 20-0 up and well in control.

Final team changes saw Wes Bonser replacing Dan Allen at hooker and Lewis Davies in at fullback and Dan Wainwright moving over to wing to replace Ashley Murdoch.

Rather than disruptong the team, all these changes seemed to have the opposite effect as Tenby put a worthwhile attack together and a neat chip through the stretched home defence by Pat Roberts saw supporting back rower Roy Osborn touch down for Tenby’s first score of the afternoon before the ball rolled over the deadball line, closing the scores to 20-5.

This positive and plus point was immediately countered by a Tenby player taking a leaf out of the Hendy players book and talking back to referee Minahan, with the resulting penalty being placed right in the corner, but Tenby got their act quickly back together and defended the situation superbly.

Spurred on by wanting a bonus point earning fourth try, the home side were rewarded for their persistence when from a series of attacks, winger Yousif Sulliman was put clear to crash over for try number four and with Morris adding the extras the scores stretched out to 27-5.

With time running out and the game as good as won, the home side cleared their bench and as the new players took time to settle in, Tenby scored two quick tries, with first Lloyd Thomas going over after some clever inter-play between Jordan Asparassa, Lloyd and Ben Pugh, while the third try went to replacement Lewis Davies from a decisive break from skipper Luke Dedman. The conversion of the Davies try by Lloyd Thomas narrowed the scores to 27-17, but virtually on the final whistle, Hendy were awarded a penalty and Morris took his match total to 10 with his second successive penalty of the afternoon and a final match score of 30-17.

Three games, three losses - not the start that was hoped for, but many of the combinations available following the departure of players from last season and the arrival of newcomers, have now been tried and the coaching staff quickly need to sort out who is playing in what position, with changes on the fly as the game progresses not really yielding the required results.

As head coach Gareth Thomas said after the match: “Amongst other things, we needed to move their bulky players around and play the wide channels,; it was not until the final bench changes had been made was that achieved.”

With Gowerton the visitors to Heywood Lane tomorrow (Saturday), smarting from their loss against local rivals Gorseinon, which knocked them off the top of the table, they will be keen to get their act back togethe rand put that reverse behind them, so another challenge for Tenby to address and prepare for at training this week.

Tenby fielded: Dan Wainwright, Ashley Murdoch (Lewis Davies), Yannic Parker, Pat Roberts, Jordan Asparassa, Lloyd Thomas, Ben Pugh, Huw Evans, Dan Allen (Wes Bonser), Jack Broadhurst, (Harry Owen), Luke Dedman, Mike Davies, Max Brinley (Charlie Patching), Roy Osborn, Jason Ronowitz (Jack Davies).