Monmouth RFC - Last ditch win needed

Monmouth's season is unravelling as they have still needed to win games but have been struggling to do so.

In a very tight league situation where several teams are all tied on the same number of points two final wins would have secured safety but sadly in midweek visitors Crumlin and then Nantyglo on Saturday took the spoils.

The Wednesday game against Crumlin was very close and with 15 minutes to go a penalty kick narrowed the gap to 13-16 and the prospect of a losing bonus point but then Crumlin's star fly-half cut Monmouth's defence apart with minutes to go and Monmout had lost 13-21, needing tto win both of their remaining games.

Hopes in theory were high on Saturday given the defeat of Nantyglo at home just a week earlier but it is amazing what a difference a week makes with just a few changes to either side.

Nantyglo supporters were out in large numbers and at their vociferous best for a game that was important to both sides but it was Monmouth who caught their team cold at the start forcing a desperate offside to thwart an attack the penalty for which scrum-half Matt King comfortably converted.

Nantyglo came to life as a result and it was only an excellent tackle by full-back Dave Brace that kept the home team backs from scoring a first try.

All was evenly fought for the next ten minutes but then Nantyglo exploited the dog-legged defence of Monmouth three times before half-time although King kept the score-board looking reasonably respectful thanks to two more penalty successes as Nantyglo in turn transgressed to prevent Monmouth crossing their line. Though quite why the referee tolerated so much coming into the side of rucks and mauls only he knows but he of course is rightly the final word in matters of the Law.

At 25-9 at the turn Monmouth's task was immense and a relatively early further penalty which King again converted showed they intended to put up a good fight and the award of a yellow card at the end of the third quarter raised hopes higher but as can often happen in such a situation Nantyglo raised their game scoring their only try of the second half from an inadequately defended kick over their line.

Try as they might in the last ten minutes Monmouth could not breach a very determined defence and claw back a 30-12 points difference and now they really must win against New Tredegar today (Wednesday) if they are not to depend on results of sides who have games in hand keeping them in Swalec Division 4 East.

Despite a very much more even second half, with the injuries that two games a week have inflicted upon their elder statesmen, the task is now immense with no room for failure at all if their season is not to end in dismay.

But life will go on regardless. Young Rugby celebrates at its Awards Night on 8 May and the Club jets off on its Tour to Ibiza on 13 May. Following their return, tickets ordered for the family game against South Africa on 5 June will be distributed in the Club-house on the evening of 20 May and plans continue to be developed for a grand Summer Ball on 28 August in the Boys School ‘s impressive new Pavillion.

But first we must beat New Tredegar or the gloss on these other activities will inevitably be dimmed.