Match Report:

The Magpies came off second best in this eight try local derby extravaganza. The early exchanges ensured that both sets of backs had plenty of ball to use but it was a penalty by Tumble's Steven Hewitt that opened the scoring after nine minutes play.

Kidwelly's response was immediate as, from the restart, they won a scrum. Craig Thomas went down the blindside and his chip was gathered for Richard Gravelle to score a try which Walters converted. The lead was increased two minutes later when he also added a penalty.

Tumble pressed for a score and, from a lineout won by Hefin Dumbrill, they were able to set up the ruck. Ben Matthews in the centre broke the defence, Hewitt was in support and with another drive taking play to Kidwelly's line, flanker Garry Williams got the score which Hewitt converted. The home team became more confident with ball in hand and centre Andy Francis was proving an elusive runner. Kidwelly worked their way upfield and with Tumble's Derek Lewis and Aled Lewis stopping three attacks, the pressure was building, Rhys Jones and Jeremy Davies tackled in midfield but with Tumble offside, Leighton Walters kicked his second penalty from 18 metres out.

The visitors pressed but, losing the ball in the home 22 gave Kidwelly's wing Rhys Jones the opportunity to hack the ball upfield, two kicks later Tumble were defending for their lives and Jeremy Goddard and hooker Mike Powell tackled heroically. Kidwelly chipped to the corner and won the opposition line out for bullocking prop Calvin Williams to drive towards the line. The driving maul saw scrum half Craig Thomas get the first of his two touchdowns.

The Magpies responded two minutes later when Davies found a gap, prop Matthew Evans tore at the defence, Powell and Huw Jones were involved and the backs were freed for flying wing Grant Williams to crash over wide out for an unconverted try. Again the Black and Ambers response was immediate when, following a scrum outside the Magpies 22, centre Francis ghosted through a non existent defence and went under the posts for a converted try.

With Kidwelly having a twelve point lead at halftime, Tumble were playing catch up rugby again. Tumble's scrum half Aled Evans urged his forwards onwards but his darting runs were snuffed out early. Early pressure was exerted by Kidwelly and with a lineout won on the visitor's 10 metre line, scrum half Thomas went on the blind side. He regathered his own chip and run, and scored in the corner after forty five minutes play. Kidwelly had secured the bonus point but not the win as yet.

It was now that both sides produced some sparkling play, Kidwelly through some fine running from Calvin Williams and wings Matthew Davies and Rhys Jones, Tumble responded with wing Gareth Edwards and props Matthew Evans and Huw Jones carving holes in the home side's defence. Last ditch tackling or poor decision making however cost both sides points.

With Kidwelly camped in the visitors 22, Walters tried a cross kick which was poorly aimed, the Magpies wing Grant Williams gathered near his own line and hared upfield. Supported by Hewitt, he was able to send the scoring pass to him. Hewitt then converted his own try.

The Magpies were unbelievably still in the game with fifteen minutes left and with both sides using their substitutes the pace was kept up. Tumble attacked again through centres Matthews and Jones but, with a wayward kick, Kidwelly turned defence into attack. Replacement Kyle Jones ran 40 metres and his gave Andy Francis his second try. This score knocked the stuffing out of Tumble and worse was to follow two minutes later when wing Rhys Jones intercepted from halfway and scored under the post for Leighton Walters to add the two points.

In stoppage time, Kidwelly were held up on the line on four occasions. Tumble then ran a penalty from their own line to the visitors 22 via Gareth Edwards and Hewitt. With flanker Garry Williams involved, they had no support and the move petered out and with it their chances of a bonus point.

Steve Lewis