Match Report:

Tumble picked up a vital bonus point and were a little unlucky not come away with their second win of the season. Fielding an experimental side with several positional changes, Tumble were put under early pressure by a big and mobile set of Penclawdd forwards. With possession being gained easily by the visitors, it wasn't long before wing Cornelius was able to outstrip a beleaguered defence to score wide out.

Tumble's backrow of Derek Lewis, Rhys Jones and Aled Lewis tackled tirelessly and good work in the linesout by Mike Harries and Hefin Dumbrill allowed scrum half Dwayne Evans the opportunity to give the backs some decent ball. Runs by wingers Gareth Jones and the wiry Aled Griffiths caused problems but Penclawdd were able contain their much lighter opponents. Tumble had to use replacement James Plimmer early after an injury to Hewitt on 15 minutes. Some astute kicking from Matthew Lemon kept Tumble in the game and, with Aled Griffiths able to take advantage of a chip ahead, he regathered the ball and captain Lewis was on hand to touchdown with Lemon adding the conversion.

Penclawdd looked sharp with ball in hand and centres Cerith Humphries and Jeremy Davies had to be alert to the strong runs of their rampant backrow. With first up tackling paramount, Tumble went through a poor ten minute spell on the half hour when they conceded seventeen points. Hooker James Jones put in some strong hits as did Jones and Lewis but, when Penclawdd recycled quick ball from a ruck, they waltzed through some weak tackling and Cornelius added his second which Richards converted. With the visitors now attacking regularly, props Clive Morgan and Matthew Jones had to use all their guile to try and secure the scrum on the home team put in. With the Magpies being turned and dispossessed, another attack took the visitors to Tumble's 22 and a penalty was conceded. Richards then extended the lead with the resultant three points.

Two minutes after the restart, with Tumble breaking into the visitors 22, they again fell off their tackles and with Penclawdd gaining possession, they broke the defence in their own half and second row Deacon was the recipient of the scoring pass under the posts. Richards added the conversion for a fifteen point half time lead.

Tumble rang the changes at half time and replacement Mark Kinnard injected some direct running into proceedings. The Magpies did well to soak up some intense pressure and replacement prop Scott Thomas continued to provide good support to hooker Jones.

Matthew Lemon grew in stature as the game went on and his tactical kicking was excellent. Gradually getting more and more possession through Jones and Dumbrill, Tumble put together some nice back play. Gareth Jones had his usual mazy angles of running and utility back, the oak like Stephen Perry, cut swathes through Penclawdd. Derek Lewis marshalled his forwards and with Jones in support they were able to release Humphries whose running created problems. Lewis drove hard as Penclawdd tired and, with Davies putting in some big hits, turnover ball was used. Perry's fleet footedness and direct running on the wing saw him first outpace the cover defence. He drew the fullback and passed inside where Matthew Lemon rounded off a superb move for a try which he converted.

With time fast approaching, Matthew Lemon kicked a 48 metre penalty to reduce arrears to five points. Tumble were now dictating play and Penclawdd were hanging on, Twice the Magpies went close but it was not to be. And the referee blew for no side much to the relief of a weary Penclawdd side.

Steve Lewis