Tumble 44 Llandybie 24

Llandybie played Tumble on Thursday night in a re-arranged fixture.

They had to cope with Tumble’s fluid backline without a recognised centre due to injuries, but winger Josh Watkins and flanker Owain Williams filled in and did well.

Tumble forced the early pace, throwing the ball wide, and Llandybie full back Wayne Williams fielded a kick ahead and counter attacked. Winger Rhydian Jones supported to hand on to captain Merlyn McClelland at his shoulder to score a good try, converted by Iestyn Richards.

Tumble scored a try after 12 minutes from a blatant knock on which the official deemed had come off the chest of the attacker to narrow the lead, and missed a penalty soon after.

From the restart, Llandybie were slow to the ball and Tumble regathered to score a try out wide.

Llandybie countered with good carries from Rhys Cann and Jordan Tommason and moved into Tumble’s twenty two.

With the hosts caught offside scrum half Steffan Jones took a quick tap to dive over for an opportunist try, with Richards adding the extras to lead 1-10.

Ioan Rees and Owen Williams were tackling their hearts out and Llandybie’s line-out was going well.

Steff Thomas found Jack Part, Connor Butler and McClelland, but Tumble were dangerous in the backs and full of attacking ideas.

Tumble were awarded a penalty try when the visitors' scrum half intercepted a pass whilst running back in defence, but was deemed to be offside, with the referee awarding  a try and carding the player. At half time Tumble led 17-14.

Tumble were all out attack after the break, but full back Wayne Williams had read their move and intercepted the pass to sprint 70 yards to score a try under the posts, converted by Richards.

Richards also converted a penalty soon after for Llandybie to lead again 24-17.

Llandybie lost hooker Cann and McClelland to injury, which was a big blow as the forwards were going well, to be replaced by Dan Brooks and Garin Criddle, whilst Butler made way for Steffan Coombs.

Llandybie were holding out in defence, but Tumble scored a good try to tie the scores.

Prop Dai Lloyd and Tommason were putting in a big shift in the tackle area and did well in the scrums where the visitors had the edge.

The hosts went ahead with a penalty for holding on in the tackle, and scored a try from another knock on to deflate the visitors.

They scored two further tries very late on to run out winners by 44-24 in a very entertaining match.

The score flattered the hosts somewhat, it was closer than the score shows. It was Llandybie’s best performance for some time.

Man of the match for Llandybie was Ioan Rees, who never stopped tackling and carrying.

Next week they are off to Grangemouth in Scotland to play their annual match for the Alban Jenkins Shield, the 66th meeting.