News

WRU National League Division 2 West

TUMBLE 13 ATHLETIC 24

​In a tough, uncompromising game played on a heavy Parc y Mynydd Mawr pitch, the Red & Blacks will be satisfied to come away with a hard fought win. 

​After paying an immaculate minute of respect to the fallen of world conflicts, both teams set about their business. The scoring opened on the ten minute mark when Magpies stand off Steve Hewitt slotted a penalty from 30 metres. The lead was short lived however, as Athletic replied with a similar effort by Sion Brook after a period of sustained pressure from the visitors. From the re start Hewitt had a chance to regain the lead, but his attempt sailed just wide of the mark. Athletic stepped up the offensive and were rewarded with a fine corner try by winger Nick Rees, a beautiful touchline conversion by Sion Brook took the score to 10-3 in the visitors favour. The remainder of the first half belonged to the Athletic and they were rewarded with a fine individual try by scrum half & skipper Carwyn Thomas who ran in under the posts. Brook added the straight forward extra points to see the visitors lead 17-3 at the break.

Athletic started the first ten minutes of the second half in the same vein and when it was certain that left winger Sion Brook was about to run in for a try, the final pass was deliberately knocked on by a Tumble defender. The referee awarded a penalty try and the Athletic extended their lead to 24-3.

The final thirty minutes belonged to the home side as they threw everything into attack. They were rewarded with two unconverted tries by Steffan Owen & Conner Allen and looked a determined outfit. The Red & Blacks held firm with some resolute defensive tackles and could have crossed for a bonus point try towards the end when some slick passing came to an abrupt end in Tumble's 22. The Athletic will be well pleased to come away with the win especially as five of the regular squad were unavailable for this game and the players who came in did a very good job against a team which confounds it's lowly league position.

Pic: Captain Carwyn Thomas crosses for the Athletic's second try at Parc y Mynydd Mawr. Courtesy of Sue Bowen