Match Report:

The Magpies had little to cheer in this defeat against fellow strugglers Cwmavon. Tumble were under severe pressure early on with a strong scrummaging unit against them and were pinned in their own half. The visitors used the driving maul to good effect and, after five minutes created a smart try for winger Jonathan Mizen to score a converted try under the posts.

Tumble competed manfully but the defensive work of forwards Garry Williams and Aled Lewis was unable to turn defence into attack. With the Magpies being pinned in their own half, the only relief came from the boot of Humphries and some infrequent attacks from Rhys Jones and winger Nicky Allinson. The relentless pressure told in the end when Aled Lewis received a yellow card for handling in the ruck. The resultant man advantage was exploited when full back Browning increased the visitors lead with a penalty from 22mtres out.

To their credit Tumble won sufficient ball from the linesout through Hefin Dumbrill and Kinnard but, with Cwmavon forwards being allowed to charge through the lineout, no platform could be built. When captain Derek Lewis broke upfield, the ruck was set but again, Cwmavon exploited the apparent weakness of the referee and, with hands in the ruck, were able to retrieve the ball and set off upfield. The front row of Clive Morgan, Mike Powell and Matthew Evans coped well with their much bigger opponents and with rare possession, scrum Half Aled Evans was able to release Jeremy Davies whose charging run caused the visitors problems in midfield. The ball was recycled and Nicky Allison chipped upfield only for him to be late tackled by Mizen who received a yellow card.

With Tumble trying to play an expansive game and Cwmavon content on spoiling legally or illegally, it wasn't long before players started to take matters into their own hands. Sporadic bouts of fighting received a mild ticking off and with Cwmavon's second row Webb again charging through a lineout illegally, he gathered the ball intended for scrum half Evans. His feed to Williams saw him draw the cover defence and Browning was on hand to score an unconverted try wide out.

This score on the half hour was a body blow but worse was to follow when, two minutes later, Evans was carried off the field after laying prostrate at the bottom of a ruck. Tumble brought on James Plimmer and readjusted the back division with wing Gareth Jones filling in manfully for Evans. Plimmer's introduction gave some impetus in midfield and an immediate drive by him caused panic in the visitors defence. Rhys Jones now on the wing showed some deft touches and Gareth Jones sniped at the base of the scrum. Still Tumble could not break down the visitors defence and went into the break 0-15.

A stern talking to at halftime, coupled with the introduction of prop Alan King and hooker James Jones provided fresh impetus to the Magpies. Tumble drove and disrupted the Cwmavon defence and both Humphries and Hewitt were astute with their line kicking. Dumbrill was beginning to dominate the line out and four rucks saw them held up short. Derek Lewis probed for weaknesses and Hewitt, Plimmer and Rhys Jones created inroads. This pressure led to a succession of penalties and the referee at last produced his third yellow card, this time to Cwmavon's Webb for deliberately killing the ball. Tumble's scrum were able to drive their opposition back and quick thinking by Gareth Jones saw him score a try which Hewitt converted.

Both team and home supporters were urged to create another score and quick drop out was taken but Alan King who drove at the cover defence, the ball was recycled and with Allinson taking the ball at speed he was cynically high tackled and the move petered out. Flanker Paul Davies came on after an hour and, with Matthew Evans tearing the defence apart ,Jeremy Davies took the ball forward and set up the ruck. Again Cwmavon killed quick ball and both sets of forwards traded punches. The result was a converted penalty by Hewitt and Tumble were back in the game.

Seven minutes remained when Cwmavon were able to maul the ball into the home 22 and a smartly taken drop goal by John gave the visitors breathing space. Tumble didn't lie down and a penalty by Hewitt following good work again by Dumbrill reduced the deficit to 5 points again.

The Magpies went close near the end with Nicky Allinson being bundled into touch on the try line. It was however to big a margin for them to overcome and disappointingly they had only a bonus point to show for their endeavours.

Steve Lewis