6 Nations rugby last weekend would have again taken away the chance of rugby for the masses, but for Chepstow agreeing to play a 'friendly' under lights on Friday evening.

As a result though a different mix of players are available at such a time and the team that Monmouth put out was an unusual blend of young and old (18 to 46 years) and experience and potential. The weather was continuing dry with a hard ground and many disruptive lumps with the only consolation being that Chepstow were equally a scratch side with the same strengths and weaknesses.

But that was what made it interesting for the small crowd, because the pace and energy were frenetic with error after error making for an eventful game.

Although Monmouth had the better of the first half hour helped by the slope and showing some signs of having played together previously, Chepstow were to improve steadily throughout the game, with their mauling forwards providing the necessary antidote to the superior pace Monmouth possessed in their backs.

Andrew Davies, the acting captain was the first to score finishing off a fine forty-five yard move, as near as can be to the corner flag without actually fouling it. But this was too far out for Croudace who proved not to have his place-kicking boots with him for the whole game despite the presence of a black kitten which covered most of the ground in pursuit of early evening moths much to the consternation of the players who would have done better concentrating on the game and their tackling in particular.

Because half-time could not come soon enough for the players the angels kindly intervened and short-circuited the floodlights along the one side and the patchy darkness may have been the excuse Croudace needed for missing an important kick at goal.

A break of about ten minutes mended aching lungs and Chepstow took up the chase with their forwards more energetically engaging Monmouth than hitherto. It was not long before they cracked and the home team drew level with an unconverted try, for luckily his kicking was also off.

Monmouth responded fittingly and if right wing Childs had the courage of his convictions he would have rounded his opponent for what probably would have been the winning try, but it was one of those evenings when people weren't long home from work, hadn't eaten for some time and were dreaming of the Welsh team redeeming themselves the following day in France, with the result that he tried to cut inside and the opportunity was lost. Or perhaps it seemed just a long way to the line.

He wasn't the only one and the best that can be said was that it was a good run-out and a fair result and certainly better than staying in to watch television, on Friday that is and certainly not to watch the international the following day.