Fishguard and Goodwick 20.

Tondu 27.

Fishguard and Goodwick made their expected exit from this season’s Swalec Cup competition as they lost to an experienced Tondu team which is currently top of Division Three (South-West) – but pushed the opposition all the way.

Small wonder then that coach Alan Phillips was delighted by his squad’s approach as skipper Simon James caught the eye in the back row.

“Simon James was superb,” said coach Phillips. “Everyone gave 100% and Tondu knew they had been in a real tussle. If my boys can keep this up then we will shoot up the table.”

Young fly half Alun George put the Seagulls ahead early on with a penalty before Tondu showed why they are doing so well with two unconverted tries. The first was from an excellent handling move which saw centre Keith Davies score, followed by a push-over try from powerful No 8 John Purnell.

It could have been the start of a collapse from Fishguard but they rallied so well that they drew level with a cracking try from a forward lineout surge where hooker Mark James claimed the touch-down. After Alun George slotted the conversion James also landed a penalty to put his side into a surprise 13-10 half-time lead.

Tondu full back Dean Thomas kicked his team level with a penalty and after the Seagulls had replacement winger Jonathan Jones and scrum half Graham Davies yellow-carded the visitors grabbed two tries against the homesters’ 13 men through scrum half Craig Fox, both goaled by No 15 Dean Thomas.

Again Fishguard rallied, however, with some close-range effort and good ball retention that rocked Tondu back and enabled Mark George to claim a short-range try which his namesake Alun converted.

But, try as they might, the Seagulls couldn’t manage another converted try and when the final whistle went they were still seven points adrift. Tondu were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle and see their name in the third-round draw.

Fishguard and Goodwick: Rhodri Thomas, Andrew Gittings, Steve Jenkins, Matthew Reynolds, Matthew George, Alun George, Graham Davies, Gerwyn Davies, Mark James, Romeo Colella, Andrew Merry, Gwilym Evans, Dan Charsley, Simon James (Capt), Richard Hunter. Replacements: Chris Mitchell, Mark George, Dan Morris, Jonathan Jones.