Monmouth RFC - A Win in the Wet for Monmouth

Despite the shocking weather of last weekend, the Swalec League game against Abercarn took place despite the visitors' earlier misgivings, on a firm pitch thanks to its excellent drainage and groundsmen.

Monmouth were to play first into the sometimes gale force wind and up the slope and in the first few minutes after a few mishandling errors by players of both sides, showed what might be by moving the ball left along the line but sadly only to be forced into touch.

Not to be outdone, this left flank was to provide the opening in next to no time when scrum half Gareth Morgan broke left and kicked high ahead, most present including Gareth assumed a further touch was inevitable but the wind kept it in play and into the outstretched hands of chasing winger Sam Harding who charged through a despairing tackle on his way to scoring in the corner.

Fly half Dave Croudace bisected the posts to add the conversion and now play really commenced with Abercarn consciously using high kick and chase tactics to their advantage and Monmouth being forced to field high and probing balls whilst avoiding eager following players.

Before the recurrence of an old injury, captain and second-row led the way in the lines-out to retain the ball and the front row gave more than they got from their weighty but less skilled opponents. The respective back rows foraged vigorously for frequent spilled balls and flanker Tom Homer, the man of the match, was fearless in the tackle and where he put his head at times.

With the elements as they were and with Abercarn having some fine line-kickers Monmouth had to sustain a fair degree of pressure but both sides struggled to avoid handling errors and both were good at snuffing out each other's attacking moves.

Half time brought a much needed breather and encouragement from their leaders to use the wind after the break to use their superiority but inside their opponents' 22m line and nowhere else.

But as ever Monmouth reluctantly did so despite the sweet boot of Croudace and their dominant pack.

The kick off was brought back for a scrum and numerous other chips and line-kicks went straight out of play, too. Coupled with this, poor judgment by individuals running ball near their own line or across rather than down the park, gave Abercarn all the encouragement they needed to fight back.

Some of the visiting pack who had earlier looked unlikely to last the game now began to make ground and even if some of the unseen tactics off the ball might have attracted sanction, at least  Monmouth maintained good discipline to avoid the prospect of too many penalties.

After 20 minutes of nip and tuck, Abercarn after putting several phases of play together then found themselves on the back foot and in need of dragging down the driving mauls that Monmouth were now putting together with the result that they lost a flanker to a Yellow Card.

But perversely this merely roused the visitors and play moved back upfield for a sustained period of pressure in the Monmouth half.

At long last Croudace put in two cracking long clearance kicks, arguably a mere 30 minutes late, but now with their flanker returned, it was Abercarn who were again to put the Monmouth line under siege.

The defence held out in the face of a considerable forward bombardment much to the relief of supporters and players alike, leaving Monmouth pleased with the way they had defended on such  a foul day. The lack of games over the next two weekends due to Internationals allow the team time to reflect on how they might better use their often considerable advantages which they may well need to exploit if they are to sustain any championship expectations they may hold.