Match Report:

Another polished performance saw off a spirited Quins side which competed for the first twenty minutes. The early exchanges saw Tumble under pressure but their defence was resolute with James Jones and Rhodri Jones prominent. Pressure from Dock's forwards made inroads into an organised defence and it was against the run of play that the Magpies took the lead.

A break by livewire Richard Rees took play into the home team 22 and, with a penalty being awarded, Tumble took the kick to touch. Hefin Dumbrill once again dominated the lineout and this enabled the forwards to drive towards the Quins line for the sprightly prop Huw Evans to crash over for a converted try. Back came the Quins and some stern tackling from Jeremy Davies and James Plimmer in midfield stopped the progress of some rampant Dock forwards. With the defence stretched, Dock moved the ball wide but captain Derek Lewis was on hand with a crunching tackle that stopped a certain try. For twenty minutes, the Magpies held firm but, with Bratcher making a break in midfield, Dock were able to reset and drive over line for Martin Scourfield to score.

Tumble looked a little wobbly at this stage but stuck manfully to their task. Cerith Humphries at outside half used what little ball he had well but still Dock were in the ascendancy. Their backs moved the ball but it was spilled from a tackle in midfield and Richard Rees was alert enough to gather the loose ball and sprint 45 metres to score wide out.

It was now that the visitors began to believe in their ability to win the game and they showed some excellent scrummaging technique via props Huw Evans and stalwart Alan King. This allowed Aled Evans the opportunity to release his backs and Jeremy Davies in particular looked sharp in midfield. With the scrum secure, Tumble then continued to destroy the linesout and Dumbrill and Rhodri Jones reigned supreme irrespective of the put in. A steady stream of ball saw Tumble use the ball and, with backs and forwards handling, play went deep into the home 22. A penalty was conceded and up stepped Steven Hewitt to convert the three points.

Not to be outdone by the backs, prop Huw Evans was instrumental in keeping Tumble driving forward. This attitude, coupled with the foraging work of flanker Garry Williams, boded well for the second half.

Seeking to build on their lead, the Magpies used Rhodri Jones' ball skills and, when combined with the silky running of Plimmer, Dock were in trouble. Some simple rugby saw Tumble increase their lead after 50 minutes. A Magpies drive, followed by a penalty, saw Tumble win a lineout at Quins' 10 metre line. Dumbrill won it, Cerith Humphries ghosted through a gap and, with legs pumping, was able to offload to Plimmer whose pass gave his fellow centre Jeremy Davies the score under the posts. Hewitt converted. Five minutes later, it was the turn of Rhodri Jones to win the ball and he combined with Jeremy Davies to release Richard Rees. His run broke the defence and a neat flipped pass saw the flyer Nicky Allinson gather and score a converted try.

It was all Tumble by now and clean up work by Chris Morris and Garry Williams provided ample ball for the backs to use. Pembroke Dock were living on scraps and were often dispossessed by Derek Lewis and his fellow forwards. Allinson in the back line looked sharp and a chase by him following Humphries long touch finder, caused havoc in the home defence. They scrambled the ball to touch and the ensuing lineout was won by Dumbrill. Rhodri Jones broke free from the tail, fed Aled Evans who beat his man, Humphries continued the movement and Rees was on hand to score his second.

With eighteen minutes remaining, Pembroke Dock scored their second try when they went through seven phases of play from the visitors 10 metre line for flanker Phil Hughes scored wide out. Tumble made good use of their replacements and Brettle was lively. With time slowly drifting, Tumble thought they had another score when Rees gathered Evans' chip only for an offside decision to be made. They made amends however on the stroke of full time when replacement Bailey exploited a gap. On hand was Derek Lewis to take the ball forward, Huw Evans continued the hard metres brushing defenders aside. Aled Evans received the pass and, with the defence broken, Allinson was through for the try to seal off a well crafted victory.

It'll be a different matter next week when Lampeter provide a sterner test for a promotion chasing Magpie team. This is a game they need to win if they are to be considered real contenders for the Division Three title.

Steve Lewis