Pembrokeshire KO Cup Final:

 
 
 

Aberaeron 19 - Tenby United 28

 

 
Venue: Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, Whitland
Referee: Joseff Rees
Assistants: Leighton Bambrey & Nigel Grey
 
 


Tenby United won yet another KO Cup in a long list of victories over the decades as they proved just a little too strong and perhaps experienced against an Aberaeron side which showed why they will be joining the Seasiders in Division One next season as they played with total commitment in front of their good crowd of supporters who had made the long journey down Cardigan Bay to cheer their team on, writes Bill Carne.
 
Both teams were always looking to run the ball at every opportunity but Tenby held the edge with their scrummaging power and control at rolling mauls, and perhaps made fewer mistakes and fewer handling errors, although there were plenty of those as both teams strove to keep the ball alive. Another feature was that both teams suffered injuries on a very firm pitch, with Max Brindley the first to go with a leg injury and with a few cut heads and shoulder damage it was a good job that both clubs had vet strong benches.
 
Aber centre Gethin Jenkins served early notice of his attacking ability as he sliced through to the 22 but the final pass went astray – but they took the lead with a soft try as Tenby full back Geraint Jones’s clearance attempt was charged down by lanky Aber second row Ellis Trigg and after his back row were quickly in support Trigg was able to reach for the line and claim an unconverted try.
 

Seasiders start well

 
Tenby served notice of their expertise in drives from a throw in as Lloyd Thomas kicked them into right-hand corner, Alex Jenkins won the lineout and who else was perfectly placed at the back of the controlled maul with No 8 Dan Colley, claiming his 16^th try of the season. Lloyd Thomas hit the post with his conversion but Aber were penalised for charging the kick too early and at his second attempt No 10 Thomas slotted it right between the uprights!
 
Aber’s ace kicker Rhodri Jenkins had the chance to reduce the deficit but the touch judges disagreed on whether it was on target and referee Rees ruled out the three points that would have nudged his team back in front.
 

Seasiders score twice – but Aber bounce back

 
Tenby full back Jones made amends for his early error by taking a clearance attempt at pace and his powerful run launched Tenby back on the attack, supported by Colley, outstanding prop Hywel Baker, Iwan Duffy, Ethan Morgan and Jack Broadhurst before scrum half Dai Jones fed his half-back partner Thomas with a beautifully-timed pass for him to slice through to the posts and add the extra points.
 
Dai Jones and Thomas also created another scoring opportunity with a clever kick to the corner that caused an Aber defender to misjudge the bounce and Geraint John stretched up before feeding pacy winger Jordan Asparassa on a run around to near the posts for Thomas to add his third conversion.
 

Aber’s positive response was to opt for running a couple of kickable penalties and the solid graft of Owain Wozencroft, Owain Bonsall and Alex Danton in conjunction with their back row finally paid off when outstanding centre Gethin Jenkins took the scoring pass from skipper Steffan Rees, with Rhodri Jenkins notching the conversion to take Aber back into contention.


 

Tenby look  good but The Seagulls fight back well

 


But Tenby regrouped as they called onto some quality forwards to freshen their pack’s charges and another controlled period of pressure allowed Luke Dedman to plough over before Lloyd Thomas converted.
 
At 28-12 it seemed as if the game was done and dusted but Aber showed real tenacity after Geraint Thomas was helped off following a collision when Dyfrig Dafis burst through but was shown a red card because the referee considered his challenge to be dangerous!

Aber scrum half Dafydd Llewelyn then sniped over in the far corner as reward for his total involvement all afternoon, with Rhodri Jenjins added the conversion.
 
But with just minutes remaining The Seasiders were able to keep things tight and it wasn’t long before they were able to claim the silverware as a measure of reward after just missing out on promotion again – with understandable disappointment from their players, coaches and supporters.
 
The KO Cup was presented to Tenby skipper Alex Jenkins by sponsors Huw Hughes and  Johnny Sjura and Huw announced that the man of the match award should go to Tenby prop  Hywel Baker for his all-action approach, at set-pieces and in the loose; a decision that clearly found popularity in the Seasiders’ camp!
 
Rhys Williams: Aberaeron coach: “Of course, we were disappointed to lose but it is evident that we can hold our own against quality teams like Tenby when we meet them in Division One (West) next season.

"t is not intended as an excuse but we were affected by a few injuries after a very long season but our squad has stuck together and the players who stepped in showed our strength in depth.
 
“Our supporters have been fantastic all season, especially making the effort with so much travel to away games, and it was heartening to see how many came to cheer us on again today.

"We say well done to Tenby’s coaches and their players and we look forward to playing you again next season!”
 
Jonathan Evans: Tenby United head of coaching: “I am so pleased for my players because over a long season we have had our share of injuries but luckily our squad strength has kept us in league contention and now we have the KO Cup to celebrate before we get back into action for 2026/27.

"As a coach I always look for positives and there were plenty here alongside some basic errors, but those are for another time.
 
“With the likes of my assistant coaches Andy Barlow and Ossie Boswell and Geraint Lewis, plus Andrew Walters and team manager Rob Garland alongside the players.

"I’m sure there will be deserved celebrations in our clubhouse tonight because we beat a very good side here in Aberaeron, who deserved their promotion, and we will see them in the league next campaign!”










 
Aberaeron: Morgan Llewelyn (Capt): Ifan Davies; Gethin Jenkins;  Rhodri Jenkins; Dyfrig Dafis: Steffan Rees; Dafydd Llewelyn: Owain Wozencroft; Owain Bonsall; Alex Danton: Richard Francis; Ellis Trigg: Wil Stone; Steff Davies; Will Skyrme-James. Replacements: Rhys Jones; Ceri Davies; Fin Webb; Llyr Davies; Gethin Dafis; Matthew Harries, Rhys Jones 2; Geraint Owen.
 
Tenby United: Geraint Jones: Jordan Asparassa; Max Brindley; Connor Keir; Matthew Lewis: Lloyd Thomas; Dai Jones: Hywel Baker; Iwan Duffy; Ethan Morgan: Alex Jenkins (Capt); Luke Dedman: Jack Brown; Jack Broadhurst; Dan Colley. Replacements: Joe Poole; Lewis Rossiter; Rob Luly; Tom Barrass; Iori Richards; Fletcher Broadhurst; Jackson Gravatt; Jayden Allen; Alfie Pryor; Cemlyn Bolton.