Monmouth RFC - A Further Loss fro Monmouth

Given the flurries of promise despite losing in recent games, hopes were high for the game against New Tredegar at home last Saturday. With the first fine weather of the year there was little reason why both sides could not give of their best and produce a treat for their supporters.

But despite Monmouth's predictable strength in the scrum and some valiant solo performances, the only team able to do so proved to be the visitors who took full advantage of some weak first time tackling to run in 6 tries during a fast and entertaining, if sometimes frustrating, game.

Monmouth started strongly but with visions of things to come were soon turned over in a ruck only for New Tredegar to break through on the right to run in a 70 yard try. Fortunately their kicking was weak and they were to miss the first of four out of the six conversions tried.

Monmouth responded with a move of their own but sadly winning only a penalty chance for a deliberate knock down of a pass. The kick having failed from 40 metres out, Dave Brace next charged up the right hand side but was tackled into touch by a relatively determined and faultless defence.

The home defence continued to struggle with the lively backs and back row and in the first 20 minutes had succumbed to two further tries both of which were converted.

At 0-19 down Monmouth rallied, picking up 3 points from a penalty from the boot of wing Dave Brace plus another which just missed. New Tredegar responded on the stroke of half-time by out-flanking the home defenders this time on the left flank to raise their lead to 3-24.

The second half was going to be a big trial for Monmouth and an early 3 points for a high tackle penalty within two minutes was a good start, but then the strength of the visitors showed again with a try from an overlap on the right generating much unhelpful internal dissension within the Monmouth ranks.

Substitute left wing Tom Baker then showed what was necessary with an excellent gallop from deep but with support on his right and a try beckoning he delayed his pass just too long so that centre Andrew Layne had by then overran it.

This may have helped in rallying Monmouth because with substitutions and enforced changes in position, Rhys Ricketts showed just how lively he can be at fly-half, scoring under the posts from a recycled ball from a ruck. Matt King, now playing at full back, converted to narrow the scores to 13-29.

But then further injury struck the team with Ricketts escorted off with a potential thumb fracture to add to those already affecting hooker Mark Jones and fly-half Dave Croudace.

New Tredegar were now buoyant and following a poor clearance kick from defence, ran the ball back at Monmouth. From an ensuing ruck at which Monmouth were penalized they kicked to touch and from the subsequent line-out they pressured the home line and scored from a driving maul to complete the day's scoring.

Captain John Powell who was himself struggling with a back injury had not given in and he again led from the front to try to salvage some pride for the home team, but was unfortunately driven into touch in the right hand corner by three very determined defenders.

There is little time for wound licking as Talywain away Tuesday (yesterday) is the next fierce challenge followed by a resurgent Chepstow at the Sports Ground this coming Saturday when it is hoped local supporters will rally round their team to make sure that their league position is safe. All is yet to play for!