Fixture

On Saturday afternoon the Magpies welcomed Burry Port RFC to Parc y Mynydd Mawr in their penultimate game in Division 2 West. With relegation to Division 3 already confirmed the Magpies had only pride to play for against the fourth placed Blacks who arrived in Cwm Gwendraeth fresh from an away win at St Clears RFC the previous weekend. Having made a number of changes to the starting 15 the Magpies started off in positive fashion but saw the Blacks take the lead with an early penalty. On six minutes centre Owain Williams attempted to draw the scores level with a penalty which was unfortunately hooked to the left of the uprights. Three minutes later however Williams made amends when he nailed a fine penalty to make the score 3-3.  The Tumble forwards were now dominant in the scrum and appeared able to push their opponents back at will which was causing no ends of problems for the Burry Port pack. On 31 minutes the Magpies took the lead when a pushover scrum saw Number 8 Steffan Davies dive over from base. Williams converted to make the score 10-3 to Tumble. The Tumble try seemed to up Burry Port’s game and but for a fine covering tackle by full back Aled Price they would have drawn the score level three minutes later. Unfortunately, a minute later the Tumble defensive line was breached in midfield after a good angled run saw Burry Port score under the posts. The conversion was added to make the score 10-10 which is how it remained at the interval.

Confidence is a fragile thing when a side hasn’t been used to wining and the Magpies seemed to go into their shell a bit in the early exchanges of the second half and get exposed in the wide right-hand channel. Two Burry Port tries, one of which was converted saw them go from being fortunate to be level pegging at 10 all to having a commanding 10-22 lead. Tumble weren’t yet finished and after a prolonged period of attack, substitute backrower Owain ‘Cwm’ Davies cut a great angle on the charge to reach out for the line and score a well worked try which was converted by Williams to make the score 17-22. Again, Tumble struggled to contain Burry Port out on the right and two further tries, which were aided by some questionable decisions saw the Blacks open out the lead to 17-34.  The last twenty minutes of the half saw the Magpies pressuring to claw the gap in the score line back and they had the final word in the match when wing Jonny Lloyd burst over for a try after 35 minutes which was again converted by Williams. Despite the late pressure the Magpies were unable to get another try which would have given them 2 well deserved bonus points.

Next week the Magpies welcome fellow relegated side St Clears RFC to Parc y Mynydd Mawr for the final game of the season before the preparation then begins for season 2019/20. Kick-off next is at 2.30pm, come and give the boys a good send off after what has proven to be a difficult and disappointing season.

A copy of the matchday programme can be found at the following link:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R2vOeZUNuz7ll15EKiOEa35eIBQhv4fF/view?usp=sharing

Scorers:

Tries – Steffan Davies, Owain Davies, Jonny Lloyd

Conversions – Owain Williams x3

Penalty – Owain Williams

Ymlaen Y Piod