Yet more fine weather and a firm pitch implied an open game where the fittest team making least mistakes would win the first round Welsh Cup game between Monmouth and their West Wales hosts, Briton Ferry.

Despite a good warm up before the game, Monmouth were taken somewhat unawares by the young eager home team with a rampaging flanker in the young Rossi and found themselves 7 points down inside the first five minutes.

But this was the spur that Monmouth needed and veteran scrum half Anstey led the retaliation with an unconverted try almost immediately following a ruck well out on the visitors' right hand flank.

The game then entered an interesting phase with both sides testing each other out at breakneck pace with Monmouth having the advantage of a considerable slope and obvious front row domination. Any fears that the frantic nature of the play might be to the disadvantage of the older visiting pack seemed unfounded when Monmouth moved into the lead in the 28th minute with a Leon Millard try which full back Brace converted.

But this stirred Briton Ferry and they raised the pace further. Their back row made rampaging runs again and again, with their very accomplished fly-half directing play, to add two vital converted tries in the final five minutes of the first half to go into the break leading 21-12.

Despite the half time talk, it was Briton Ferry who were to strike first again to move into a 14 point lead, but this was the spur Monmouth seemed to need as they in turn raised their game with Anstey again scoring after 15 minutes only to be injured by a rather belated tackle behind the posts. This time the fly-half converted the try.

Monmouth were now wearing down their more pacey opponents and a penalty by Croudace to reduce the deficit to six points made the last ten minutes promising.

Monmouth were blowing hard but maintaining the pressure and the hosts' line was under threat more than a few times, relieved only by mishandling on the visitors' part.
Promising moves and individual performances were to be fouled up by a more skilled Briton Ferry ability to secure the crucial turnovers.

It was exciting though, with end to end play until the final minute of the game saw the home side secure a match-clinching converted try to leave Monmouth on the receiving end of a 35-22 defeat, and with the prospect only of a good night out in Swansea's night clubs and 12 months' wait for another cup opportunity.

Much good came out of the game, not least confirmation of the strength of the front row as well as proof of the stamina to play a high speed game. Despite the defeat, there is justifiably room for quiet confidence for next week's home league fixture against Chepstow - k.o. 2.30p.m.