Fixture

The Magpies and a large travelling support made the trip to Bridgend on Saturday to face the Cherry and Whites of Bryncethin RFC in the Quarter Final of the WRU National Bowl. Playing with a strong cross wind largely behind them Bryncethin started strongly pinning the Magpies deep in their half. Soaking up pressure Tumble conceded a penalty after four minutes, but breathed a sigh of relief when the attempt went wide. The Magpies started easing their way into the game and pinned the home side back into their own half. A dominant Magpies scrum with good work from the front row of Osian Flint, Rhys Lewis and James Stephens saw Bryncethin conceded a penalty after 12 minutes. Up stepped Magpies fullback Steven Hewitt to calmly slot the penalty over from the 22 metre line, 0-3 to Tumble. Two minutes later Hewitt found himself in the sin-bin after being shown a yellow card for knocking the ball down when Bryncethin tried to exploit an overlap. Down to 14 men the Magpies continued to put their bodies on the line and put in a stern defensive effort. With only a minute remaining of Hewitt's sin binning the Magpies conceded the first try of the game when Bryncethin went over for a try wide right when a Magpies attempted clearance was charged down. The conversion was missed making the score 5-3. Immediately after the conversation attempt Magpies' full back Hewitt returned from his sin-binning. Tumble were attempting to get a foothold in the game but each time they worked themselves into good field position they either coughed up the ball or saw the official penalise them. Losing possession and then territory was allowing Bryncethin RFC to reverse the pressure. After 31 Bryncethin scored their second try of the game. In an attacking position deep in the Bryncethin half the Magpies were penalised by the official which saw Bryncethin reclaim the ball. A long kick down field saw Bryncethin put the Magpies under sustained pressure and forced to soak up tackles near their own line before finally yielding and conceding the try. The conversion was again missed making the score 10-3. With the wind at their backs again Bryncethin pressured the Tumble line from a lineout five metres from the Magpies' try line. Stern defence from Tumble managed to turn the ball over from the resulting ruck and the ball was cleared to safety. Having worked their way back up field on 35 minutes the Magpies were awarded a penalty for an infringement at a ruck. From 30 metres into the wind Hewitt struck a fine penalty which sailed over the posts to close the score to 10-6. Tumble were now playing some good stuff within the Bryncethin half and looking for the next score when the referee blew for half time, much to the surprise of the travelling support who calculated the whistle had been sounded at least three minutes early with Tumble in a good attacking position.

The Magpies started the second half well but again found themselves being turned over or penalised when in going attacking positions. A lineout won by Ryan Lewis saw the Magpies work the phases only to see hooker Rhys Lewis becoming isolated in midfield and being adjudged to have held on in the ruck. After 49 minutes the Cherry and Whites worked their way up field against the wind and broke through for a try just to the right of the posts. The conversion was added stretching the score to 17-6 and giving the Magpies it all to do. After 50 minutes Tumble made changes to the front row with Dafydd Humphreys and Liam Willard coming on for props Osian Flint and James Stephens. On 53 minutes Tumble were awarded a penalty 20 metres out straight in front of the posts. Hewitt stepped up and struck another well taken penalty closing the score deficit to 17-9. We then entered a period of the game where Tumble had plenty of possesion but we're unable to create clear chances from their possession, attacks either fizzing out or falling foul of the whistle. A nice break on the right from number 8 Steffan Davies saw him charge into the Bryncethin 22, with wing Sam Jones on his outside. Unfortunately, the outside pass didn't come with Davies stepping inside and a scoring opportunity was wasted. On 71 minutes it looked like the Cherry and Whites would go over for another try but fortunately for the Magpies Bryncethin knocked the ball on prior to going over the whitewash. Late on in the game a good backs move from the Magpies saw the ball worked out to replacement wing Nicky Allinson, who hit the line at pace. Allinson went through the gap and gained 20 metres before the ball went loose and brought an end to the move. With time running out Tumble tried their best to create a scoring opportunity but unfortunately lacked the cohesiveness of the previous week's second half performance against St Clears and found themselves unable to break through a stubborn Bryncethin defence.

Unfortunately, our National Bowl run has come to an end for another season at the quarter final stage but we thank the efforts of the players in getting this far, including topping their pool undefeated and securing a superb comeback win against St Clears. We also thank the loyal band of Magpies supporters who made the trip to Bryncethin on Saturday.

Focus now shifts back to Admiral Division 3 West B. Trimsaran's defeat to Cefneithin on Saturday opens things right up in the division and gives the Magpies an opportunity going into the final title run in.

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