Match Report:

A superb season was capped last night when Tumble captain Derek Lewis lifted the S A Brains Bowl against hard and uncompromising opponents Mumbles.

The early pressure came from Mumbles through some fine driving mauls and only the heroic tackling of Magpies forwards and backs prevented an immediate score. Play was concentrated solely in the Magpies half and the only respite Tumble had were relieving kicks from Hewitt and Cerith Humphries. The pressure told when Mumbles won a lineout in Tumble's 22, No. 8 Koloi drove at the defence, Tumble were committed and wing Tom Milliship scored an unconverted try wide out.

Tumble reorganised and started to gather momentum with Rhodri Jones and Chris Morris carrying the ball effectively. The scrum looked solid and Derek Lewis at No.8 tidied up any loose ball. The backs used what little ball they had to good intent and the ever watchful Jeremy Davies probed for gaps in midfield. Paul Davies tackled everything thrown at him and none of the forwards budged an inch despite intense pressure from Mumbles. A speculative kick to the corner was gathered by Nicky Allinson and put safely into touch. Tumble won the resultant lineout and, with Rhodri Jones making ground, Allinson's hack on caused problems. He regathered the ball well inside Mumbles 22 and his slipped pass saw centre James Plimmer on hand to score with just under 20 minutes gone. Steven Hewitt converted.

Sprightly Alan King and the rampant James Jones tore at the Mumbles back line and three rucks made big ground. Cerith Humphries' trusty right boot kept Mumbles pinned in their own half and, with the Magpies winning a scrum 40 metres out Lewis sucked in the defensive cover. His pass was collected by Jeremy Davies whose brilliant angle of running split the defence in two and he fed Cerith Humphries who romped in unopposed from 25 metres out for the unconverted try.

Prop Huw Evans went off injured after 25 minutes only to be replaced by the emerging youngster Matthew Evans. The scrum still remained solid and Aled Evans at scrum half used both kick and pass effectively. Matthew Evans made a break early on and the man mountain Chris Morris offered himself as a target runner and took some stopping. Still Tumble couldn't rest easy as Mumbles came back into the game via their forward play. Second row Richard Lancaster won clean ball in the linesout and it was left to Koloi and Dan Wright to carry the ball to Tumble. The drift defence could not be breached and Mumbles had to rely on a penalty 28 metres out to reduce arrears. The signs were there that Mumbles were creaking as Hefin Dumbrill and Rhodri Jones were beginning to secure good lineout possession and a darting run by Richard Rees posed problems for Mumbles wide out.

The Magpies started the second half strongly however, a missed touchfinder into the wind enabled Chris Morgans to put Tumble on the back foot and gained territory in Tumble's half. Dumbrill pinched the lineout ball and play then swept back upfield with the Magpies back unit looking far sharper than their opposite numbers. Aled Evans worked well with his forwards and the back row stopped any Mumbles momentum. Davies and James Jones urged their pack onwards with crunching tackles and probing runs but it was the boot of Hewitt and Humphries that won the territorial battle.

A line out just inside the Magpies own 10 metre line saw Aled Evans feed Derek Lewis. The ever alert Rhodri Jones gathered and hared upfield to the opposing 22. He was tackled but Tumble had numbers and Nicky Allinson touched down for another unconverted try to give Tumble a nine point lead.

Back came Mumbles with some rumbling drives and eventually a drive close to the Magpies line saw Richard Harries being awarded a try which Lee Davies converted. Tumble pressed and some smart work by Hewitt saw him almost score but for a cynical foul and Dan Wright was shown the yellow card. Hewitt kicked the penalty from 20 metres out. This was cancelled out almost from the restart when Davies replied from 27 metres.

Matthew Evans and fellow front row men Alan King and James Jones dominated up front and Dumbrill and Jones secured the linesout. Mumbles were left to sporadic attacks from deep but they were bottled up by Jeremy Davies and young Richard Davies. The final quarter was frenetic as first Tumble went close from a mazy run by Rees and Gareth Jones. Derek Lewis' trademark bullocking charges brought Tumble close. James Jones went over but was adjudged to have been held up. A lengthy delay in play owing to Rhodri Jones being carried off four minutes from time left the Magpies nervous, but Hewitt settled matters on the stroke of time with his second successful penalty from 24 metres. He was also named S A Brain's man of the match with Mr Huw Rees presenting the trophies to victorious Tumble team.

The Magpies have certainly soared to new heights this season and have now ended a twelve year drought of silverware with two major trophies.

Steve Lewis