With points needed from every game as the long season drifts to a conclusion, Tenby Tourers sponsored Tenby United travelled to fellow strugglers Llanelli Wanderers to try to gain some much-needed points to lift them out of the relegation last but one place in the league.

But try as they might, they struggled to breakdown a resilient home defence and leaked four tries to go down 29-7, after an error and mistake-riddled first half saw them go off at half-time 22-0 in arrears. To their credit, they turned in a much improved performance in the second half, but unfortunately it only yielded seven points apiece.

With several changes and new combinations from last week’s defeat at Crymych, Tenby faced the kick-off in front of a sizable and vocal crowd at Stradey Park, which was swathed in Mediterranean/South of France type conditions, and were under pressure from the start as the home side eagerly chased and pressurised everything.

Their efforts were rewarded when fullback Dafydd Daniel entered the line and went over for the first try of the afternoon, which was converted by Jonathan George, putting the home side 7-0 up very early on.

The attempted restart ended with a scrum on the halfway line and influential number eight Nicky Harries broke from the base and neatly linked with scrum-half Josh Weeds and the Tenby defence was being tested again, but this time a superb tackle by Jordon Asparassa brought the move to a halt.

Unfortunately, an infringement at the breakdown ended with Tenby being penalised and George stepped up and stroked the penalty between the uprights, taking Llanelli Wanderers into a 10-0 lead.

The restart was harshly judged not to have travelled the necessary 10 metres, so it was a scrum on the halfway line again, but this time Tenby handled the situation and, after regaining the ball quickly from the breakdown, Dan Wainwright hoisted a high up and under. Eagerly chased by Tenby, a crunching tackle by skipper Luke Hansford allowed the United to gain the initiative and there followed a series of pick and go’s, gaining them valuable yards, but progress was eventually brought to a halt with a knock-on.

Tenby, through Jordan Asparassa, Yannic Parker and Jack Guerreiro, put some neat attacking moves together, but found the home defence was more than capable of handling anything that came their way and even ball gained from an attacking lineout deep in the Wanderers’ half, initiated by a clean take by Luke Dedman, and involving drives by his fellow forwards, struggled to make ground.

Switching to their backs, Jonny Morgan, Patrick Roberts, Jack Guerreiro and Yannic Parker were again thwarted by a very well organised defence and loud shouts from the home supporters of “they are gong nowhere” summed up the situation.

The situation suddenly took a dramatic turn for the worse when, from an attacking position deep in the Wanderers’ 22, play switched to the other end of the field and prop Howell Jenkins was deemed to have scored as the home forwards drove over the line, stretching the score to 15-0.

Livewire scrum-half Jonny Morgan, standing in for his injured brother Matthew, was next in the action with a quick tap and go penalty awarded by referee Morris, but lack of support brought the promising situation to an abrupt end.

Tenby, however, did create a situation to get on the scoreboard, but Dan Wainwright’s penalty attempt fell short.

As the half progressed, the error rate from Tenby increased, nullifying any potential threat to the scoreboard, with bad decision-making also not helping their cause and the situation was made worse as home number 10 Jonathan George waltzed through their defence to slip the ball to supporting second row Ben Williams, who went over unopposed.

With George adding the extras, Wanderers were now well in control at 22-0.

Tenby ended the half with a few attacking phases involving Yannic Parker and centres Mauritz Neumann and Pat Roberts along with forwards Joe Poole, Barry Parsons, Huw Evans, Luke Dedman, Andrew Cooke, Jack Clancey and Luke Hansford, but ball transfer was not quick or accurate enough to worry the home defence, as referee Morris ended the half.

The restart was followed by an indifferent period by both sides and eventually ended with a game of kick tennis between the two sets of half-backs as they tried to prompt a mistake by the opposition, but defences held firm and, if anything, it was Tenby who were more threatening than the home side.

Following a series of probing runs by Mauritz Neumann and Pat Roberts, it was a superbly angled and timed run from deep by Jack Guerreiro that created the chance for Mauritz Neumann to cross for Tenby’s first contribution to the scoreboard and with Dan Wainwright adding the extras, the gap was closed to 22-7.

As the half progressed, Tenby coach Cone rang the changes up front, with Mike Davis replacing Luke Dedman and Ethan Morgan replacing Lyndon Jones, along with Wyndham Williams on for hard-working Huw Evans. While in the backline, young Jack Tucker replaced Yannic Parker and Jordan Asparassa was replaced by Charlie Patching.

Taking advantage of the various changes, the home side upped the pressure, particularly at scrum time, and the Tenby eight were put under real pressure as the penalty count rose steadily, but the Seasiders manfully stuck at it and slowly the frustration started to tell on the Wanderers as they sought the elusive fourth and bonus point earning try.

At times, it looked as if it would be Tenby to trouble the scoreboard operator first, but despite valiant efforts by Barry Parsons, Andrew Cooke, Joe Poole and Wyndham Willilams, as well as backs Pat Roberts, Jonny Morgan, Jack Guerreiro and Mauritz Neumann, this was not to be and it was Llanelli Wanderers who capitalised on a lost ball situation on their 22 to score at the other end of the field from a driving maul, with second row Ben Williams going over for his second try of the afternoon.

Jonathan George took his match total up to nine points with a successful conversion, with the home side trooping off with a well-deserved 29-7 victory, which lifts them out of the relegation dog fight.

Overall, a far better performance than last week, but the error-ridden first half left too much to do in the second half and, despite the odd attacking threat, Tenby were kept in check by a well-organised home defence.

With only two matches to go, the United will be up against it to get the three points currently needed to avoid the drop - but as long as there is still a chance of escaping relegation, the team must battle on.

Tenby go to Dunvant tomorrow (Saturday) seeking the necessary points to retain Division One status. With Kidwelly also losing out against Felinfoel, the teams in the mix to join Tycroes going down to Division Two next season are Tenby (on 39 points) - two games still to play, Kidwelly (on 42 points) - and one game to come against Crymych away on May 19, and finally Penclawdd, who have completed their programme and have 44 points.

Tenby fielded: Yannic Parker (Jack Tucker,), Jack Guerreiro, Mauritz Neumann, Pat Roberts, Jordan Asparassa (Charlie Patching), Dan Wainwright, Jonny Morgan, Lyndon Jones (Ethan Morgan), Joe Poole, Huw Evans (Wyndham Williams), Luke Dedman (Mike Davis), Jack Clancey, Andrew Cooke, Barry Parsons, Luke Hansford