Match Report:

The Magpies eclipsed their high flying opponents in this top of the table clash at Parc y Mynyddmawr. With the Wanderers defending an unbeaten record, Tumble quickly got into their stride and scored after five minutes when, following the first scrum, deep in the visitors 22, the pick up and drive saw captain Derek Lewis rumble over for an unconverted try.

Tumble were obviously superior in the scrummage and time and time again were able to push back and disrupt their opponents. Prop Huw Evans had an outstanding game and partner young Alan King showed his talents. With scrum half an livewire Bailey sniping from the base of the scrum, incursions were made into the visitors stretched defence. To their credit, the Wanderers tried to use their backs but were starved of any quality possession. The linesout were dominated by Hefin Dumbrill who appeared to steal the opponents ball at will. Even a sudden downpour could not dampen the Magpies and a bullocking run from Brettle took play into Wanderers territory only for the Magpies to infringe. The scraps gained by the Wanderers saw Sion Thomas and Dan Rogers linking well but Tumble's midfield of Jeremy Davies and Lee Jones contained the threat.

With the Magpies taking play into the visitors 22 following runs from Nikki Allinson supported by the quicksilver Rhodri Jones, a penalty by Steven Hewitt increased the lead to 8 points. This was quickly pegged back when, within the space of five minutes, Dan Rogers kicked the Wanderers only two penalties.

The hard metres were being gained by man mountain Chris Morris who tackled anything that moved and was supported by hooker James Jones. Added to this was the educated boot of outside half Cerith Humphries took keep the visitors at bay. Tumble continued to dominate the set pieces but still had to guard against a pacy backline of the Wanderers. With no quarter asked or given, half time came with only this two point difference.

Llanelli Wanderers exerted pressure on Tumble's defence with some telling runs from their backs but, bone jarring tackles from Richard Rees and Jeremy Davies soon put paid to their efforts. Tumble varied their lineout and good ball was won by Morris and Jones to supplement that gained by Dumbrill. Although the Wanderers scrum was a little more secure in the second half, Tumble's James Jones still managed a strike against the head. Tumble broke upfield through Derek Lewis and Rhodri Jones and, with the defence at sixes and sevens, a penalty was conceded which Hewitt calmed converted. This calmed nerves and acted as a catalyst for a storming last quarter. Jeremy Davies won the ball in midfield and, with Humphries putting in a raking touch finder, Wanderers Rogers could only boot it to touch 18 metres from his line. The line out was duly won, forwards drove at the defence, rolled their way over for James Jones to score the first of his brace of tries. Try as they might, the Wanderers were a beaten side by now and, another run from Rees created panic in the visitors defence. With Allinson chasing Davies' corner kick, the ball was scrambled to touch. With a repeat of their last move, Jones came up beaming with his second try which Hewitt converted.

The forwards were now rampant and with able support from the backs, especially some astute kicking from Humphries, they were camped in the visitors 22. The final score of the game came from the hard working Rhodri Jones who capped a fine game with his try wide out.

Tumble rung the changes with the substitutions, during which Matthew Jones and Mike Harries caught the eye, and they were not to be denied the sweetest of victories which pleased match sponsor J & J Motors, John Plimmer.

---Steve Lewis