Fixture

The Magpies welcomed Betws RFC to Parc y Mynydd Mawr on Saturday afternoon knowing that a win would secure top place in the WRU Bowl District F1 table from chasing Amman United RFC. After observing a minute's silence in remembrance of the recent passing of former player Malcolm Stephens the Magpies faced up to a much-changed Betws team featuring a number of players on permit. A last minute change was also necessary for the Magpies with the withdrawal of centre Owain Williams. In came the experienced Tomos Hancock at full back with Scott Jones switching to centre to partner returning captain Steffan Price. Tumble started the game well taking the game to their opponents with a combination of strong running and good handling. After only seven minutes a break from openside Flanker Callum Williams saw the Magpies work the overlap and fullback Hancock go over for a lovely try near the left-hand corner flag. Outside half Steven Hewitt stepped up to slot over the conversion from near the touchline to make the score 7-0. Looking at recent results and the league table many were now expecting the floodgates to open but a pumped up Betws team had other ideas and came roaring back to draw the score level at 7-7 after 13 minutes with a try and conversion of their own. Tumble now knew they were in a game and this wouldn't be a walk in the park. The Magpies edged themselves back in front, 10-7 after 17 minutes with a well struck penalty from Hewitt from 45 metres. Both sides were going for it and had opportunities with Price bundled into touch near the right-hand corner after 20 minutes. With breaks in play to clean up a present left on the pitch by a local dog owner and for the referee to yellow card one of the Betws centres, who seemed intent on going off with constant backchat Tumble had another opportunity to score after 32 minutes but it again came to nothing. Wing Mike Edwards however had to depart after pulling a hamstring sprinting for the corner. Edwards was taken off and replaced with the pacey Elis Lewis. It only took Lewis two minutes to show his pace and round his man to sprint in for a try from 20 metres out. Unfortunately, the referee adjudged a forward pass and the score was chalked off. On 36 minutes Tumble number 8 Nathan Willard was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, which equalled the numbers at 14 a-side. Betws levelled the score at 10-10 with the resultant penalty goal. The Betws Centre was now back on from his time in the sin bin, but Tumble continued to push and had scoring opportunities as the half closed off. A penalty was awarded to the Magpies, three minutes into injury time. Hewitt stepped up but pulled his kick narrowly to the left of the posts. Going into the interval the score was level at 10-10, which was a pretty fair assessment of the first half.

Betws started the second half strongly and immediately had the Magpies under pressure. With Tumble soaking up tackles deep in their own 22 they manage to turn the ball over. It looked like the danger had been averted, unfortunately however the ball goes loose and the Betws outside half regathered for a gift wrapped try. The easy conversion was added to give Betws the lead in the match for the first time, 10-17. The restart immediately saw number 8 Nathan Willard back on from his yellow card. Tumble were now in determined mood, off the top ball from second row Ryan Lewis sees the ball quickly moved to the back, lovely hands and a long pass in midfield sees the ball reach wing Lewis who beats his opposite man on the outside. Once free no one was going to catch Lewis, who used his pace to sprint in from 20 metres. Hewitt narrowly missed the touchline conversation attempt, but the Magpies had closed the deficit to two points, 15-17. Betws had been gaining an advantage in the scrum so a double change was made in the front row with the experienced Dafydd Humphreys and Liam Willard replacing young props Rhys Tobias and Ashley Evans, who had both put in a great shift. The Magpies were throwing everything at Betws, after 54 minutes the home side won a line out in the opposition 22 through young second row Ryan Williams. The maul is driven with the ball worked back to scrum half Iwan Morgan, who passes directly to captain Price who cuts and angle and charges over for a try from 10 metres. Hewitt adds the conversation and the Magpies were back in the lead 22-17. Fullback Hancock used his massive boot to rifle over a penalty from 50 metres to extend the score to 25-17 after a high tackle on Callum Williams before Betws brought it back to 25-20 with a penalty of their own. On 67 minutes Flanker Jack Tucker was taken off to be replaced by Youth team captain, Celt Llewelyn-Jones who was making his debut for the first team, a very young first team, apart from a sprinkling of 30 something veterans. Tumble were now really putting Betws under pressure with their driving play. Another driving lineout from a Ryan Lewis take sees the ball worked back to prop Liam Willard. Willard bursts away from the maul to use his power and burst over the line from seven metres. Hewitt misses the conversation making the score 30-20. In the aftermath of the try Betws saw their Hooker yellow carded for back chatting the referee. Completely in the ascendancy Tumble weren't quite finished scoring. Another lineout catch and drive see the ball quickly recycled by Iwan Morgan and beautiful hands in the backs. Centre Scott Jones cuts through for a great score. The conversion went wide so the score finishes with a 30-20 win for the Magpies.

A good afternoon's work against a determined Betws side with some great rugby played in the second half. Tumble have now secured top spot in the WRU Bowl District F1 table and finish their campaign next weekend at home to Cefneithin RFC. The league then starts in November with Amman United RFC, home first up.

Big thanks to the ball boys from Tumble RFC Under 15’s – Jack Morris, Joes Collins, Aiden Watts and Olly Lloyd. Diolch yn fawr bois.

Scorers:

Tries - Tom Hancock, Elis Lewis, Steffan Price, Liam Willard, Scott Jones

Conversions - Steven Hewitt x2

Penalties - Steven Hewitt, Tom Hancock

Ymlaen Y Piod