As befitting a ‘top of the table’ clash Monmouth and Bargoed would have battled it out ‘toe to toe’ for the full 80 minutes, if the referee had not blown up early in the growing darkness, with Monmouth veteran fly-half Frost scoring the only try of the game to two earlier penalties.

5-6 was probably a measure of this tough game although the strength of the two defences almost earned a draw which might have been fairer result given the absolute commitment displayed by both teams.

Determined to build on their recent run of successes, Monmouth even met early to try to shake the long holiday period out of their systems and to modify a few set moves now that 2nd row Powell has definitely been side-lined for a lengthy period with a leg fracture following the Usk fixture.

In the first half Monmouth took barely a backward step leaving Bargoed wondering if this was the same side they had so comprehensively beaten in September. Morgan and Scourfield profited from good throwing at the line and took most of Bargoed’s ball as well. Inside five minutes, Forrest just missed a touchline penalty only to see the anxious visitors take the lead with another in reply a few minutes later.

The next direct scoring opportunity came and went on the stroke of thirty minutes but he missed again - both of which on another day he would have converted without too much difficulty. But it did let off the bemused visitors enough to edge further ahead with another penalty on 35 minutes where the referee appeared to spot an offside almost in the corner but gave the kick (thus made easier) under the posts for some obscure reason.

At half-time, six points down, it was clear Monmouth needed to score first to retain their chances of winning and it veteran Frost who found himself the beneficiary of a weak kick for touch that he dived on after only three minutes. The angle again defeated Forrest and both sides dug in for an intense battle over the coming thirty minutes.

Every man-jack played his heart out but Bargoed are not league leaders for nothing and they concentrated on keeping Monmouth deep in their half for much of the rest of the game. There were isolated penetrating runs from deep by Monmouth but always they failed at the last ditch.

The good crowd certainly had their money’s worth in adrenalin rushes while players of both sides played themselves almost to a standstill. Battered and bruised they may have been but the crowd will have struggled to regain their voices for some time given the emotions generated.

What a pity there isn’t another opportunity for these teams to play each other again this season because even more superlatives would undoubtedly result, but instead Monmouth can relish a visit away to their old rivals, Chepstow, this Saturday and everyone is praying for good weather so that both sides can be judged on their merits. All is equal this season given the fact that the first game was declared void due to a referee injury, but Chepstow will hope to start where they left off in that game, with a winning lead of 12 points. The way Monmouth are now playing after a poor start to the season suggests this as unlikely but one never knows does one?

One thing certain, is that the Anniversary Dinner on 23 January, for which Max Boyce and David Moffett have now confirmed, will be a great success. Whilst tickets are still available from the Club Steward they are going steadily enough for a sell-out to be confidently forecast. Have you got yours, yet?