Match Report:

This basement battle proved a romp in the park for a well drilled Pontyberem side which outscored their neighbours Tumble by seven tries to two. From the outset Tumble were under pressure from Bont's lively forwards and only the boot of Hewitt and some strong defence by Derek Lewis and James Jones kept the line intact.

Hefin Dumbrill was effective for Tumble in the linesout but, with the visitors being starved of any useful possession, it was always going to be an uphill task to penetrate the defence. With Pontyberem pressing in the visitors 22, Aled "Tank" Lewis put in a big tackle to prevent a score but, with Tumble being penalised for lying on, a quickly taken penalty by wing Kelvin Rees saw him sprint over unopposed. This scored calmed the nerves of the home team and they soon were back in Tumble territory when scrum Half Williams broke the cover and linked with his forwards. Play went deep into Tumble's 22. The pack drove the ball over the line but Aled Evans managed to hold up a certain try. The ensuing scrum saw Tumble pushed back and hooker Jones got the score which Sauro converted.

Tumble were unable to get any meaningful possession and tackled as best they could. Mike Harris and prop Matthew Jones tried to stop runs from rampaging forwards and outside half Dwayne Evans had to kick for safety on several occasions. Pontyberem won another penalty and, with a lineout 18 metres out were able to catch and drive over the line for captain Harding to get a converted try.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Bont scored a further two tries, the first following a break by second row Abbott. He was held up short by Jeremy Davies and James Hunt but the inevitable scrum saw Bont win the ball and Adrian Williams' dummy gave him the easiest of scores. Time was nearly up however, when Tumble's James Jones was yellow carded for illegally stopping another score, the scrum this time saw prop Simon Roberts score.

The second half saw Tumble beef up their pack with Steve George and Mark Kinnard coming in at No 8 and second row respectively. Kinnard was immediately into action when he had to tackle his opposite second row when the defence was creaking. Huw Jones at prop squared up the scrum but ten minutes into the second half , Abbott intercepted the ball on Tumble's 10 metre line at he raced over for a try which Sauro converted.

Tumble were now on the rack but they stuck manfully to their task and gradually were able to secure some ball from both lines out and scrum. Kinnard won lineout ball, Tumble drove upfield and with James Jones linking with his backs play swept into the home 22. A lineout 5 metres out was won by Tumble and this time they were able to drive over and the effervescent prop Clive Morgan got the touchdown which Hewitt converted.

The evergreen James Plimmer, on for Davies, probed for weaknesses but it was Bont which scored next. Another try by Roberts when he took the ball on the burst with Tumble having held up five drives on their own line. The Magpies scored the final with a minute remaining when a flowing move from halfway split Pontyberem open. Bont conceded a penalty in their own 22 and with Tumble this time driving Pontyberem, Morgan got a well deserved second for Hewitt to add the extras.

Steve Lewis