Monmouth RFC - Monmouth Advance in Cup

Monmouth revelled In the better weather of last weekend despite the enforced use of a greasier than usual training pitch due to an intractable fixture clash with the Football Club.

Prefaced by ‘curtain-raiser' games by two of their Junior teams who played Crickhowell and Drybrook, the atmosphere was perfect for this third round Swalec Bowl fixture and Monmouth did not disappoint with 11 tries in all in their 73-0 victory over Division 6 visitors Crickhowell and all scored unusually by their backs.

Dewi Lane opened the scoring by coming in off his right wing to scythe through under the posts inside the first quarter of an hour, followed by centre Andrew Layne with the first of two for him, and then two for fly-half Dave Croudace who was also to pick up nine conversions in a personal tally of 28 points.

But this did not mean it was all plain sailing as Crickhowell played with much pride and resolution throughout, even taking a strike against the head from the more dominant home pack.

After the half-time break with 26 points in the bag to nil, as in the first half it took a while for Monmouth to break the through the visitors' defences but the grind of back pedaling in the scrums again began to tell and scrum-half Gareth Morgan, welcoming the attacking ball at the base of rucks and set-pieces began to go through a repertoire of moves and the floodgates began to open.

Everyone was keen to show their paces and it was outstanding to see some players run faster and further than some believed they were ever capable of, with one of the senior players exceeding 50 yards and all those chasing him! Seven tries were the further result of some sustained good running rugby. Wing Tom Baker and Centre Andrew Davies each were to score a hat-trick showing fime individual skill and determination, and whilst Baker wished to claim another, on balance the ball he kicked ahead and then dribbled over the line was dabbed down just before him, according to a majority view including that of the referee, by the supporting full back Rhys Ricketts.In fairness Baker did the bulk of the work but young Rhys was quickly up in support and was not deterred by an attempted shove to prevent him joining the score-sheet. Perhaps justice was done as a result.

Whilst it was the backs who claimed the glory this report would not be balanced if mention was not made of the grafting that the pack (old and young)provided throughout, the encouraging linking that the forwards did all over the field, the way in which the half-backs prompted moves and controlled tactically nor the excellent spirit in which the game was played by both sides despite the heavy defeat but this last point was helped very much by empathetic refereeing.

Monmouth move into the last 16 now and eagerly await this week's draw to see where they play next, but they still have league commitments and preface their Christmas break with a trip to Nantyglo this Saturday. Boxing Day then brings the usual derby games home and away with Usk, as well as a Youth game more details of which next week.