On a glorious Spring day it was obvious the minds of the Monmouth three-quarters were on things like the view of the hills opposite Nantyglo RFC's ground for at least the first half an hour, if the missed tackles and other basic errors were anything to go by, before clawing their way back into the game and then racing away in the last stages to win 13-30 for a long awaited win.

From the outset the Monmouth scrum mage was dominant almost to the point of being dangerous given the pressure and yardage achieved in the set pieces, but Nantyglo were initially rampant about the field and through their hard running backs, helped more than a little by an apparently inconsistent referee.

Despite the setback of an early penalty and a missed try that cried out to be scored, Croudace eased Monmouth back to 3-3 with a penalty reply on ten minutes, only to see Nantyglo run through slack defence for a converted try and a 19-3 lead which they were to hold for a full twenty minutes before Monmouth added a three point penalty.

The balance was definitely in Nantyglo's favour as they extended their lead with another penalty and were about to changeover at half time at 6-13, when Stacey Edwards, through a great solo effort ran from a set line-out move some fifteen yards before taking two defenders over the line for an invigorating and timely try near the corner flag on the left hand side which had narrowed the difference to 2 points.

The necessary strong half-time briefing from second row and coach seemed to be the park that was needed as the forwards began to move around the field more quickly and together, and the backs began to link better. After ten minutes, pacey centre Morgan chipped and beat the cover to take the lead at 13-16, and then as Nantyglo were beginning to feel the pressure South African wingman Venter, broke from his own 22, chipped ahead and re-gathered to score a fine try near the posts, to give fly half Croudace an easy conversion and Monmouth a 13-23 lead.

Individuals from Nantyglo were still making inroads into Monmouth's tentative defence, but their cause suffered a serious blow when one of their substitutes was dismissed from the field for over vigorous use of the boot in the very first incident in which he was involved.

The pressure was now all Monmouth and with just five minutes remaining, a strong and speedy blind side burst by scrum half Taylor, saw the man of the match, and very much the youngest player, Mike Griffiths, up on his right to cross over unopposed and near the posts for Croudace to convert for a final score of 13-39 and a long awaited but well deserved win.

Next week sees the final scheduled home game of the season against Rhiwbini k.o. 2.30p.m. which promises to be a stirring game.