Fixture

Well you probably thought that you wouldn't get a match report after my absence from the game on Saturday. Firstly I want apologise to the players for my absence. I let you down, I let the club down, I let Laugharne down and I let myself down. I realise there can be no excuses for missing a game. However this is what happened. whilst on a fact finding mission for the club in South Africa (possible tour location) I was attacked by a pack of lions whilst on Safari, I was stupid enough to stray away from our 4x4 and found myself surrounded. Four lioness's pulled me to the ground and started gnawing at my legs and arms. They dragged me to an area close to a river, where unfortunately for me one of meanest, biggest, crocodiles ever to be seen lay in wait to finish me off. I was torn to shreds and left for dead, however I didn't give up and I looked at my blood stained watch and realised I still had time to get back to Tumble for the game. The guides were great (eventually!!!!) and bandaged me up. I caught the first flight back to Cardiff Airport and quickly got a taxi to take me back to Tumble. Unfortunately we had a major crash on the M4 and I missed the game. Moral of the story is "if you're going to have a rumble in the Jungle, then your going to find it hard to get back to Tumble". Also "I got knocked down but I got up again". We may have lost this one but we will be back!!!

Anyway match report, thanks to Julie in our stats department and one of our loyal Supporters from Brook. I will try and reproduce his report verbatim.

Saturday produced perfect conditions for an open attractive cup tie between Tumble and Laugharne. A dry afternoon with very little wind and a near-perfect playing surface. Laugharne dominated the early exchanges and were quickly awarded a penalty to take an early lead Tumble's response was a well orchestrated try and conversion of their own which gave them the lead 7 -3. There then followed a passage of play which really should have set the tone and approach for the remainder of the game. Laugharne started to move the ball really well, coupled with accurate touch Kicking, which resulted in moving the heavier less mobile tumble Pack around the park. It was this open play which lead to Laugharne 's immediate response a clever grubbed kick through the Tumble defence by Owain lead to Laugharne's second row Carl Smith outpacing the Tumble players for a well worked try. Which was converted by the full back and new signing Matt Tait, to bring the scores level 10 all. There were a further two penalties from both sides which brought the scores level again at 13 all. The rest of the first half belonged to our hosts, producing two tries in quick succession aided by some unusually weak tackling and poor refereeing decisions. halftime score tumble 23 Laugharne 13.

Tumble were out of the blocks the quickest after the restart scoring and converting a try within minutes. Once again the character and resolve of our players was questioned and once again Laugharne did not disappoint with a well worked try by Matt Tait in response, which reduced the deficit to 30 points to 18 in Tumbles favour, unfortunately the conversion was missed. It was at this point that we began to chase the game, running the ball out of our own 22, when a simple exit should have been the better option. A number of very dubious refereeing decisions which resulted in two successive penalties to tumble both of which were converted, the tide was slipping away score now 36 points to 18. To our credit we never gave up we kept asking questions Of Tumble but unfortunately these questions were being asked from well inside our own half, Tumble put together a great passage of play which resulted in another try which more or less killed the tie, score 41 points to 18.

We were now playing for pride, this endeavour resulted in a well worked forwards try by our hooker Richie Waters, score now 41 points to 23. However tumble had the final say with a try and conversion at the end to increase the final score to 48 points to 23.
The scoreline flattered Tumble however they did take their chances when presented with them, we probably lost one or two tries out there and the game was much closer than the scoreline suggests.
Well done boys not our day but we learn sometimes more in defeat then we do in victory.

Thanks to all the Squad, backroom staff, Sponsors and Supporters.
With the cup over, Let's dust ourselves down and concentrate our efforts on the League.

Richard Griffith