A real ding-dong league match battle between Usk and Monmouth ended all square with 17 points apiece last Saturday, making the perfect curtain-raiser for the traditional Boxing Day game when they meet again to resolve the stalemate (k.o. 2.30p.m.).

For 25 minutes of a game that Monmouth dominated, chances were sadly missed that would have clearly displayed the extent of their pressure on Usk. Then tragedy struck. Totally against the run of play, an Usk player broke from a ruck and threw the ball forward in the tackle, but the referee saw it differently from the large visiting contingent from Monmouth and Usk scrambled over for an unconverted try.

This helped Usk raise their game and they went a further 3 points ahead from a penalty before turning around 8-0 at half-time.

Monmouth were not to be downtrodden, starting the second half with a vengeance, and within ten minutes after wave upon wave of attacks, centre and captain for the day Andrew Davies surged through a gap for a try which Croudace converted to reduce the lead to 8-7.

The game now reached an intensity which saw lungs aching for oxygen whilst mesmerising the spectators but the balance again swung in Usk's favour with a penalty for a score of 11-7 on twenty minutes.

Five minutes later after some sustained Monmouth pressure, the balance swung again with the Usk fly-half being sin-binned for a professional foul of obstruction. This led to a real battering of the Usk line but despite Thomson, flanker Edwards and prop Powell going close and scrum -half Taylor, newly returned from injury, crossing the line only to spill the ball, the Usk defence all but held out whilst down to 14 men, but for a darting run across the line through several pairs of clutching but frustrated hands, by centre Morgan, Croudace again converted and with the score now 11-14, the game began to reach boiling point.

In the 35th minute, Usk dropped a goal to equalise at 14-14 followed in three minutes by a dropped goal by Croudace to take Monmouth back into a 14-17 lead. But right on full-time Usk were rewarded by yet another penalty offering which they converted to draw level again and although the three minutes plus of injury time seemed endless, neither side could break through again although Croudace again went near with another attempt at a dropped goal.

The high sprits in the changing rooms suggested someone had won something of significance despite the drawn result, but perhaps it was in the knowledge they had taken part in a stirring game and the replay on Thursday was likely to be a game to savour.