In the final home match of the season, generously sponsored by Rob Keene of the 'Cloisters Wine Bar' in Ross, Monmouth supporters were blessed by yet another glorious Spring day and eighty minutes of high scoring rugby ending in a convincing win by 46-14 points against Cardiff visitors, Rhiwbina RFC.

Two of the home team, captain and hooker Mark Jones and wing Dawie Venter were to score two tries each, with the former typically charging a full five yards with great determination for both of them, and the latter with clever use of kicks ahead and pace covering more than half the field for his scores. Full back Dave Brace slipped neatly through a gap to score near the posts for another and fly half Croudace kicking all but one of them as well as converting a penalty.

At long last the backs really clicked with the ball thrown around in the first half in such a way that a 70 plus points whitewash looked a strong possibility given Rhiwbina's slow start, their age and their 29-0 deficit by half time.

But then the rot set in, leaving the coach probably regretting telling his players that 'the game was won' and advising them on how to proceed for the better in the second half.

Despite, an unconverted try in the extreme left hand corner by wing Childs after only five minutes, the inevitable reaction came from Rhiwbina. Their pride was hurt and their pep talk worked leading them to cut through almost unopposed to the posts for an easy conversion only two minutes later against a now casual Monmouth defence.

Monmouth rallied through their leader Jones, with one of his close to the ground drives, but then the apparently 'older' Rhiwbina players who were expected to tire raised their game and for the next twenty minutes the play went first one way and then the other only for the visitors to cross in the corner for a converted try with five minutes to go.

Alarm bells did not quite sound at 39-14, but Monmouth, with a full complement of substitutes used, rallied only to see the ball spurting over the opponents' dead ball line chased eagerly but unsuccessfully by both centres. But further reward was to come for this reinvigorated side when right at the end of the game they were awarded a penalty try for a final score of 46-14 and another three league points.

Crumlin away next week will prove a sterner test, but this side has always shown much potential in its pacey backs but founded on its strong scrum, and it is to be hoped that with this win behind them they will have the confidence to play to that potential for the rest of the season, after which they can enjoy their tour to Prague.