Match Report:

With Tumble unable to field a competitive front row, they were only allowed to field a bare fifteen players in this basement encounter with Gorseinon. Fresh legs were therefore the downfall of the Magpies who conceded nineteen points in the final six minutes of this match.

The early exchanges saw Gorseinon using a strong wind to keep the visitors pinned in their own 22 and Tumble responded with some fine tackling from Steve George and Aled Lewis. In the linesout Hefin Dumbrill and Mark Kinnard were making a mess of Gorseinon's ball but still Tumble were unable to break out of defence.

Gorseinon used the rolling maul to try and wear down Tumble's defence but flanker Rhys Jones stood tall and even managed to complete several turnovers. When the ball was won, the Magpies had scrum half Aled Evans and Matthew Lemon who relieved pressure with some well found touch kicks. With the home team unable to penetrate a well organised defence, they had a penalty forty metres out which was pushed wide.

Growing more and more frustrated, Gorseinon resorted to some shady play from Southgate which Dumbrill took exception to and referee Owen Daley gave them both 10 minutes. Twenty minutes had gone before Tumble got out of their own half and with Lemon scything through midfield, he held the ball a shade too long where centre Cerith Humphries would have had a run in. The danger was averted when full back Burder was able to kick the ball 50 metres downfield to put the Magpies back in trouble.

James Jones and Mike Harries put in big tackles close to the line and with Gorseinon recycling quickly, captain Derek Lewis stopped his opposite number short. Back came the ball again and, with yet another Gorseinon drive being held up short, Tumble transgressed with Rhys Jones receiving a yellow card for handling in the ruck and O'Kelly kicked the penalty from 15 metres out in front of the posts.

From the restart, Steve George was able to regather the ball and drive hard at the home defence, with forwards Aled and Derek Lewis up in support they pressed hard, James Plimmer linked well with his forwards but, with Tumble a little too eager, disaster struck when Burder exploited the dogleg defence. His run split the defence and centre Atkins was on hand to take play the length of the field for wing Rhys Heath to score in the corner.

Tumble were a little disappointed despite their heroic efforts to go to the break 8-0 down but, with the wind at their backs, felt there was still the chance to secure a win.

Restarting play gave Tumble the opportunity to move the ball and, with a deft chip from Aled Lewis, Derek Lewis caught the ball and committed the defence. Humphries was in support as was Hewitt. Play was taken into Gorseinon's 22 and with Humphries feeding wing Daniel George, he was bundled into touch inches short of the line.

The wind now died down and, with Gorseinon bringing on some big replacements, Tumble were again under pressure. A lineout in Tumble's 22 gave Gorseinon the chance to set in midfield and with quick ball being recycled, second row Southgate scored the first of his brace. Three minutes later, on the hour, wing Stoneham scored in the corner following another driving run in midfield which sucked in a now tiring defence.

Two more big backrow forwards came on for Gorseinon and with Rhys Jones coming off injured and Plimmer playing through the pain barrier, it had been a game effort from a plucky Tumble 15. Sporadic bursts by Stuart George and Derek Lewis were all the Magpies had left. Time was running down and, with five minutes remaining, a penalty in Tumble's 22 gave Gorseinon the chance to scrum. Using their big forwards, holes appeared in the defence and prop Pompa scored a converted try. The lead was increased two minutes later when centre Chris Jenkins found space and he cantered under the posts for a converted try.

The final score came on the stroke of full time when second row Southgate took a quick penalty 5 metres out to crash over a beleaguered defence to complete the rout.

Steve Lewis