Monmouth RFC - A Solid Start

Monmouth's first real game of the new season away at Crumlin brought a deserved 26-0 win which should give them confidence for their home game at home on Saturday versus St Joseph's.

Despite Crumlin seeming to have invested heavily in new personnel, these very changes proved their downfall as they demonstrated it takes a while for a team to gel and this Monmouth exploited, steadily adding points by penalty kicks courtesy of the reliable Dave Croudace's boot to capture a 0-9 lead inside the first 30 minutes.

The set pieces were sound as was the Monmouth defence and these backed up by the fearless exploits of man of the match flanker Ollie Gray ensured the visitors failed to make significant progress. Save for an inability by Monmouth to cross the home line due to over eagerness, things were looking good for the second half when early season match fitness would tell.

True Crumlin had their moments but it did not look to be their day as the referee warned them again and again for simple indiscipline transgressions. Monmouth's seemed to have the rub of the green, too, as first Crumlin missed an absolute sitter and then Croudace prevented Crumlin developing some ascendancy with an outstandingly brave ‘mark' as Crumlin recovered a little in the ten minutes to half-time.

From the very start of the second half, Croudace was testing Crumlin but then failed with a rather speculative drop-kick and his pack not wishing to be outdone pushed the Crumlin pack off the ball with the result that they nearly squeezed Croudace in the corner.

Early on in the second half with both sides now heavily substituting there followed quite a few disruptions but one highlight in these early stages was when Tom Baker covering back across field avoided the chasing Crumlin and cleared accurately to touch.

By the end of the third quarter the first try nearly came with a sharp break by scrum-half Gareth Morgan but the supporting Baker was crowded out into touch . But the pressure remained and after a good scrum a defender was caught in possession and 2^nd Row Matt Edwards was on hand to dab the ball down for Croudace to again convert.

Next scrum-half Gareth Morgan received the quick ball he required to run across the face of the advancing defence in a classic move to cut in at right angles to score in the corner. Croudace now oozing confidence converted by means of a drop kick as the freshening wind dislodged the ball from the tee.

Crumlin's former first choice players and particularly their captain tried to make inroads but it was fly-half Croudace who nailed the game down deep into injury time with yet another penalty for this convincing 0-26 win.

Why not come and see them for yourself next week? - k.o. 2.30p.m. at the Sports Ground.