apache configuration with php and mod_rewrite

I am running apache web server on sun sparc solaris 9.
I have been pulling my hair out trying to enable mod_rewrite.
I have tried many different configurations, my current one is:

#!/bin/csh

./configure \
--prefix=/opt/apache \
--activate-module=src/modules/php4/libphp4.a \
--activate-module=src/modules/standard/mod_rewrite.c

It seems to compile fine - the Rewrite rules are read and recognized
successfully using apachectl configtest, and phpinfo() notes that
mod_rewrite is an enabled module. But the rules don't work.

relevant portion of httpd.conf file:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^/tst.php$ - [F]

The above rule works on another distribution of apache (sun companion cd),
so the placement in the httpd.conf file and syntax is correct.

I have tried implementing rewrite error logs - the log file is created but
no errors go there.

Hoping there is someone out there with some idea of what's going on.
Thanks