Fixture

The Magpies put in an top rate performance to beat table toppers Morriston from Division Three West Cental in this SWALEC Bowl cup game. All twenty players battled in this fiesty encounter which saw Morriston take an early lead through an unconverted try by centre Morris. This was followed up by a further penalty after twenty two minutes.

The game was a battle for the forwards and some bone jarring tackles came from both sides. Flanker and magician Steff Owen bounced a second row back and young hooker Rhys Lewis was artful with running and distribution, With the Magpies gaving as good as the got in the forward exchanges, they gradually won some good ball for the backs to use and the mercurial James Owens got a touchdown to reduce arrears after thirty minutes play. Centre Chris Lemon had his usual bulldozing runs in midfield but, when he felt the field injured, the Magpies had to re-adjust their back division.

Prop Dafydd Humphries was immense at the breakdown as were locks Gareth Beynon and Hefin Dumbrill. Captain Dumbrill posed a constant threat with his lineout work and, with the backrow of the Willard brothers and Owen, the game gradually turned in Tumble's favour. On thirty eight minutes play, a nice looped move involved Steffan Price and Owens and resulted in the perennial centre Gareth Jones scoring wide out for Hewitt to convert.    

Outside half Steven Hewitt controlled with some neat kicking and kept his forwards on the front foot. His distribution was good and link work with his backline created gaps in the Monkeys defence. Morriston were rattled as the game was going to their plan and, following a succession of scrums and penalties, referee Davies yellow carded Stephens and Bevan, two front rowers. Tumble won a penalty and when Morriston were moaning their fate, the wily Iwan Morgan at scrum half danced through some gaps and scored a converted try five minutes into first half stoppage time.  

Stunned at being behind, Morriston tried their best to get back into the game but more time was spent by them looking to disrupt rather than create good play. Tumble's pack camped down in the visitor's twenty two and, being awarded four successive penalties following infringements by Morriston, the crowd were surprized at the referee for not awarding a penalty try such was the Magpies dominance. Morriston cleared their lines briefly but Tumble drove back with Owen, and replacement Emlyn Phillips. A speculative kick from Morriston saw wing Allinson gather and, although taken out in the air, only a penalty was awarded.

Morriston had another yellow later on with twenty minutes to go and this proved costly as Tumble's rampaging forwards messed up their much bigger opponents in both loose and set plays. With seventy minutes gone, Tumble again won three penalties following scrums and drives some ten metres out. Morriston's prop Bevan moaned and complained once to often and he received his second yellow which became red. He still left the field complaining about everybody but himself. Tumble opted for a scrum and, when the drive was collapsed, the referee awarded the Magpies with a penalty try. Steve Hewitt added the two points.

The visitors were now playing for pride but when they did move the ball out wide, the aggression shown by the young centre Steffan Price countered any depth of penetration. Two quick penalties by Morriston saw prop Kieran Richards, who had been solid throughout, yellow carded with five minutes remaining.

Tumble held on comfortably at the end and need to carry on this intensity and level of play into next week's league game against high flying Lampeter.

SL

15 James Owens

14 Gareth Jones

13 Steffan Price

12 Chris Lemon

11 Ifan Davies

10 Steven Hewitt

9 Iwan Morgan

1 Dafydd Humphreys

2 Rhys Lewis

3 James Stephens

4 Gareth Beynon

5 Hefin Dumbrill (captain)

6 Liam Willard

7 Steffan Owen

8 Nathan Willard

16 Jordan Phillips

17 Kieron Richards

18 Marc Kinnaird

19 Rhodri Jones

20 Nicky Allinson