The Powling family played a huge part in Tenby United's development

A survey of family associations with a particular club would reveal an amazing range of dedication and total involvement and there is no doubt that at Heywood Lane the name of the Powling family would feature high, not only at Tenby United RFC but at any list across the county.

Because seven Powling brothers not only played regularly for the club and did so much else in a time span from 1949 to 1996 but their two sisters Sylvia and Julia respectively married Phil Ive, a fine back row forward who played 213 games from 1973 to 1987 and scored 62 tries, and Tony Hewitt (1973 to 1979), a strong-running centre who played 25 times and scored three tries!

John Mabe was a wonderful club historian whose attention to detail was not only very accurate but also made fascinating reading and a final tally established by Mr Mabe reveals that in total, the seven brothers and two brothers-in-law played a mind-blowing total of 1,654 games for The Seasiders and scored 2,418 points, comprising 272 tries, 286 conversions, 244 penalties, and 47 dropped goals!

Roy certainly led the way, on and off the field

There’s no doubt about the most prolific points gatherer in the family in a period extending from 1947 to 1967, and that was Roy as a talented player who was equally comfortable at full back, centre or outside half so that when he had stepped down he had played 417 times for the first XV, amassing an amazing tally of 1,018 points.

This comprised 64 tries (worth only three points in those days), 161 conversions, 137 penalties and 31 dropped goals – and he as club captain in 1957/58, 58/59 and 60/61.

Then when he stopped playing he did a brilliant job as long-serving Hon Secretary and in the early 1980s was presented with the Wills Castella Award for services to rugby with Tenby United and rugby in Wales.

The presentation was made to Roy in The Seasiders’ clubhouse and this deserved recognition was celebrated in style by his family and a large crowd who joined them there.

Jeff - scored points galore and Denis – lots of appearances 

Next in terms of number of points was Jeff, who played in the same three positions and from exactly 300 appearances from 1964 to 1978 managed 50 tries, 120 conversions, 94 penalties and 16 dropped goals in an outstanding tally of 735 points.

In 1963/64 Jeff was the first captain of Tenby United to lift the Pembrokeshire & District Youth Cup, something he is rightly proud of up to this very time.

And when he stopped playing in 1978 he took on the role of first team touch judge for an amazing 16 seasons, travelling all over South Wales and again showing his commitment to the club.

Second in the number of appearances was Denis, as a tearaway flanker or winger, playing 384 times from 1971 to 1987 and scoring 300 points from 75 tries (their value had risen to four points by that time).

Once he had finished playing Denis also spent a successful time in raising thousands of pounds through sponsorship deals, not only from big businesses but from the many local contacts gained in small businesses around the seaside town.

Both were honoured with the captaincy of The Seasiders, with Jeff in 1974/75 and Denis in 1979/80.

Tony was a fine back rower – but an even better coach

Tony played in the back row from 1959 to 1967 and played 109 times and grabbed seven tries but it was as a coach and team manager that he rightly earned even more plaudits, starting out with the youth team which won the Youth Cup, the Griffiths Cup and the Pembrokeshire Sevens.

When he moved to coach the senior side they won the Pembrokeshire League trophy in his first season, securing the silverware by February and remaining unbeaten until their final match, when they lost to Haverfordwest on a makeshift pitch at Shoals Hook Lane on Easter Monday.

Tony was a great motivator and man manager and it was the start of an unparalleled period of success for The Seasiders because the following season saw the start of the Heineken Leagues across Wales - and Tenby United won their first match 29-3 against Pontypool United at Heywood Lane and gained promotion as big crowds flocked to watch and the town was buzzing with their success!

Not content with that lot, Tony was also fixture secretary and club chairman at various times.

‘Bert’ was a tireless worker, on and off the field

Robert, who is still known to his family as ‘Bert’ was a hard-working hooker in his 28 games for the first team and scored two tries – and he was captain of the second team for a few years.

When he stepped down in 1979 he continued to graft in the club because as well as being club steward for a number of years he took great pride in voluntarily maintaining the Heywood Lane pitch to a fine condition that took more hours than anyone outside the family would know. He was also the Seasiders’ membership secretary for a number of years, which meant being at the clubhouse a lot.

Rob also kept the changing rooms in pristine condition – aided and abetted on match days by brother Jeff, who looked after the changing rooms and pre-match looked after rugby reporters like myself with a cup of tea!

Eric and John also played as much as work commitments allowed

Eric played his first game in the second row in 1952 and his last in 1961 but his final total appearances of 19 belies the fact that as a senior police officer that had to take precedence and so he was not available for selection whilst John, the oldest of the Powling boys, played from 1957 to 1964, again in the second row, and amassed 159 games that produced eight tries, which were valued at three points each in those days!

Such a number of appearances was all the more praiseworthy because John was in the Royal Navy for ten years before returning to the area and, like Robert, doing lots of work as groundsman and membership secretary.

Roy’s hugely impressive record might have been even further enhanced had he not missed out through two years National Service in the Royal Air Force, where he played rugby at a decent level. He also reminisces about one particular inter-services match where he played directly opposite Ray ‘Pop’ Willington, of Pembroke RFC fame and after a real battle on the pitch the pair enjoyed a few pints afterwards!

But in those two years away, such was his importance to the team that they used to write to his commanding officer for permission to bring him home, especially for important cup matches!

And finally . . .

It is worth noting that we have tried to find out about these statistics in the past and our research has finally come up with these facts – but we have to say that they merely scratch the surface because there is so much more that has made the Powling family firmly entrenched in the history of Temby United as players.

It is also the same off the pitch because of the number of jobs that were undertaken by them, especially at the club’s most exciting times when the Heineken Leagues came into being – and their work on the committee was also considerable  in making sure that The Seasiders carried the Pembrokeshire Flag with distinction across Wales!