Match Report:

Tumble eased their way into third place with a solid performance against a plucky Ammanford side. In a match where conditions would dictate, Tumble had a fierce wind at their backs during the first half as was exemplified when Steven Hewitt's kick off went dead from the start. Ammanford took the scrum but a knock on saw Tumble regather the ball and Hewitt found touch some 5 metres from Ammanford's line. Captain Derek Lewis was held up short but with the Magpies infringing, the ball was cleared to the visitors 22. Dominic Brettle won some good ball in the lines out and in the loose but too often, Tumble were guilty of spilling the ball whilst in possession. The respite was short lived when, following a break by the diminutive Nick Bailey, Ammanford conceded a penalty in their own 22 which Hewitt slotted over.

Ammanford came back strongly and the restart saw them take play deep into the Magpies 22 where Richard Rees was on hand to put in the relieving kick. Ammanford continued to harry their opponents and the good ground gained by the forwards was lost via some raking kicks from Cerith Humphries and Jeremy Davies in midfield. Tumble seemed out of sorts in the conditions and Ammanford levelled matters after 20 minutes when they converted a penalty 15 metres out from Craig Maloney. Too often Tumble were guilty of overcomplicating things and it was left to No.8 Derek Lewis to drive straight at the defence. Ammanford began to creak with the pressure being exerted by flankers Paul Davies and Brettle and, with Hefin Dumbrill winning plenty of good lineout ball, it wasn't long before this pressure was turned into much needed points. Tumble had a free kick just outside their own 22, Derek Lewis took play to halfway where Cerith Humphries fed Jeremy Davies, his kick caused Ammanford to knock on and the ensuing scrum saw Tumble regather the ball. Bailey broke at the base, fed Lewis who made the hard metres, the ruck was won and backs handled for Richard Rees to score wide out. Hewitt added the two points.

This settled a nervous Magpie side and soon, Bailey's sniping runs had support from hooker Powell and Dumbrill. Play now was contained within Ammanford's half. Second row workhorse Chris Morris cleaned up any loose ball but Tumble could only add a further Hewitt penalty before half-time.

The wind and rain faced the Magpies at the start of the second half but Lewis, gathering the restart charged upfield, fed Morris who again made ground but, with the ball being turned over, Ammanford put Tumble under pressure with a kick to the Magpies 22. Tumble were penalised but Maloney missed his kick and this let off gave heart to Tumble. They ground their way upfield through Powell and Lewis and, with the introduction of Rhodri Jones at flanker, they again looked a formidable outfit. The ball was keep tight when it was needed to be and released when required with Rhodri Jones and co flanker Paul Davies making inroads at the visitors. The scrum was awesome and evergreen Huw Evans and fellow prop Clive Morgan were able to destroy their opposite numbers.

Handling the ball following a succession of drives from Jones, Powell and Davies, saw Tumble's backs take play into the visitors 22, Richard Rees probed as did warhorse James Plimmer and, on the hour, this pressure led to a Tumble penalty 18 metres out just off centre. Up stepped Hewitt whose kick went sailing towards the posts only for the strong wind to hold it up and blow wide, Jeremy Davies following up saw the ball bounce of his shoulder and, with Ammanford knocking on in goal, the alert wing Paul Davies' eager hands touched down. Tumble then were able to relax further and showed that both backs and forwards can handle when necessary. Wings Paul Davies and Rees had some runs but it was the work of the forwards that controlled matters second half ably supported by Nick Bailey. With ten minutes remaining, Tumble had a further penalty which Hewitt converted to seal an excellent victory.