Tumble maintained their unbeaten WRU Bowl record with a hard-fought win in a full-blooded tie at a rain-sodden Cwmamman Park.

After an hour’s delay, due to the referee inexplicably thinking the game had been called off, the game began, with full commitment by both sides in tough conditions

Veteran full-back Steve Hewitt gave the Magpies the lead, slotting an early penalty to punish an Amman offside.

Tumble soon lost centre Scott Jones to a head-injury, with Alex Jones coming on in his place, and they were narrowly denied as wing Ellis Lewis almost squeezed over.

Amman outside-half Tom Caddell tied the scores with a 20th minute penalty, but the visitors were winning good ball, lock Ryan Lewis with some handy lineout ball, and Nathan Willard made some good yardage for his side.

Hewitt’s metronomic place-kicking came to the fore again, in fact he did not miss a kick all game, slotting two penalties to make it 9-3.

Amman were reduced by a yellow card in the second offence and Tumble ended the half on the front- foot.

Centre Alex Jones’ break deserved to be finished off, but the Reds hit back on half-time with Dan Jones breaking free and back-row mate Alun Lewis chipping ahead.

Alex Williams was narrowly denied the corner score.

Full-back Ciaran Watkins also showed some bright moments during the half.

With Nicky Allinson solid under the high ball, Amman were finding it hard to open up the Magpies’ defence.

It was to get a more confrontational in the second half, with Amman prop Rhys Phillips red-carded for foul play.

It got a bit confrontational in the second half, and the referee after a few instances of “handbags at five paces” finally lost his patience, and Amman prop Rhys Phillips was red-carded for foul play.

This left Amman with no recognised front-row props as Tom Thorneycroft made the switch to the front -three.Another fracas then blew up, and again, the Reds saw red as scrum-half Alex Williams this time received his marching orders.Ironically, Amman’s remaining 13 players began to more than hold their own for the final 20 minutes; a Tom Caddell penalty reduced the arrears to 9-6, but the visitors then nicked a crucial score as wing Ellis Lewis got through some weak tackling to dive over with some twelve minutes to go.Steve Hewitt converted, obviously.

Amman’s depleted number finished off the stronger, Ceri Jones’ run opening up the gaps, then Alun Lewis made one of his trademark surging bursts.

Their cause was helped when Tumble also began to lose their discipline, and in their desperate defending, received two late yellow cards, scrum-half Iwan Morgan the second recipient, to level the sides as 13-apiece a the end. It was no surprise to the now- rain-soaked home support that it was outstanding flanker Alun Lewis who made the breakthrough , going over for a corner try as Amman made a concerted late effort to rescue the game from the fire.

But time, and the daylight were fading fast for the home side and Tumble held on for a just-about deserved victory.

*Amman’s next game is a week on Saturday (October 16) at local neighbours Cwmgors; Tumble meanwhile travel to take on Cefneithin this weekend (October 9).

Amman United 13

Tumble 16