On the very weekend when the victorious English side were receiving yet further TV accolades, Monmouth did their bit by visiting Painswick in Gloucester and returning comfortable 38-12 winners.

Having been frustrated yet again in rearranging the outstanding Chepstow replay, Monmouth took a weakened side away for a friendly in the Gloucestershire ‘pool’ because even ‘macho’ rugby players sometimes get injured or have to conform and go Christmas shopping.

And the early stages looked ominous as the larger Monmouth pack was pushed around up front, struggling at the same time to get into its line-out routine. But inside ten minutes the wealth of three-quarter talent began to display itself even if it was still rather individualistic, with young full back Coates running from deep and swerving at pace first this way and then the other, around would be tacklers. Fly half Forrest converted the easy kick. The local spectators suddenly realised the dangers that were lurking in the Monmouth armoury but to the credit of the vigorous local pack they fired back straight away with equal pace shown by their full back who was also a class act. Their kicker was not as fortunate though.

The game then became an interesting contest as the game swept from one end to the other and the packs each tried to achieve dominance in a battle that was hard but clean which was just as well as the referee did not seem the sort to cope if things had got out of hand. Festive spirit had arrived early and the sun even peeked out from the Cotswolds from time to time.

Individual class next showed when South African Dawie Ventor showed superb acceleration and scored virtually untouched after thirty minutes with Forrest again adding the extra points. Painswick were still in the game at this stage and battled back with an excellent run from their fly half who also had talent aplenty this time with the added points.

But the Monmouth side was slowly beginning to click all around after some abortive forays up field by individuals who shall remain anonymous today because of the festive season, and Jake Coates carved his way through for a second fine individual try for a 19-12 lead just on the stroke of half time.

The second half was now literally all down hill on this country pasture and after only seven minutes flanker Perrott with his new ‘go-fast’ hair style increased Monmouth’s lead to twelve points with a try from a very determined run through the heart of the Painswick defence.

The backs, having had their fling, were obviously content that the forwards should now be given centre stage, with Johnny Powell next to get in on the act when he delightfully ‘stepped’ (as they put it these days) a player in mid-field twenty yards out to dance around the remaining defenders to score almost under the posts to make the kick easy for Forrest.

The substitution in the second row by coach Seymour brought some more traditional disciplines of play to the forwards allowing the hard nosed Kiwi flanker Luke Perrott
to score yet again in the 25th minute for the score to increase to 38-12..

Painswick tried hard and with many substitutions they at least kept the relaxing Monmouth team on the back foot from time to time but the game was already well won and there was to be no further score.

But it is back to the realities of the League next week away at Ynysddu with the traditional Usk game confirmed for the following Boxing Day followed sooon by a top of the table clash with Bargoed.

The members will take comfort that Rugby is not all about hard games though with the late news that Max Boyce has confirmed his availability as the principal speaker for the Club’s 130th Anniversary Dinner on Friday 23 January with tickets available as of tomorrow from the Club-house. What a coup for the Club!