A bumper Boxing Day crowd saw a pulsating and ultimately nail-biting game at Usk on Monday. The derbies between Usk and Monmouth have a long tradition of fierce combat and close results but this year’s win by Monmouth 36-37 could not have been closer nor more clean if not without some controversy. The home crowd almost immediately were raised when their incisive backs made the Monmouth defence look flat-footed in the extreme, rounding them for an unconverted try in the right hand corner. Usk then appeared to advance further from a penalty only for the referee, who had an excellent game besides, to disallow it against the recommendation of both touch-judges! Monmouth rallied and eventually were rewarded with a three points from a penalty for offside with Tom Baker, Monmouth’s left wing, storming in for a try which the referee first gave, then appeared to doubt, and then after another long look gave for Croudace to convert. The end to end action continued as Monmouth next allowed the home scrum-half to stroll in from a short distance almost untouched for an easy and converted try which regained the lead 12-10 for Usk. But Baker’s confidence has improved no end of late and he set off on yet another rampaging run to force his way through despairing tackles and Croudace who was on good kicking form converted to steal back the lead. With half-time fast approaching and having had the bulk of play, Monmouth stretched their lead when the ever-sharp scrum-half Morgan burst clear up the left touchline, chipped over the head of the covering full back only to find the mobile No 8 Seymour up on his right to touch down just before it went dead. Croudace again obliged for a 12-24 lead but to Usk’s advantage failed with a penalty just before the half-time whistle. Having had the more dominant pack in the last 30 minutes of the first half Monmouth must have expected a bonanza in the second and when Croudace converted yet another penalty after eight minutes, all seemed set fair. That is until the rearranged centres missed a tackle and Usk gratefully ran in a converted try in the left corner reducing the deficit to 19-27. Usk were picking up their game and when changes to the Monmouth pack were needed because of first injury and later to provide fresh legs the balance of advantage noticeably shifted. The sides swapped penalties to move the score on to 22-30 and then the redoubtable Baker raised his head again to kick ahead and beat the turned defence to touch down for Croudace to convert and take the lead to 22-37. But Usk were not to be outdone and they got stuck in to Monmouth with some vigour for the rest of the game. First following a breakaway and an inside pass they edged to 29-37 and then missed a penalty prior to a concentrated period when they pounded the Visitors’ line with driving mauls, short penalties and five yard lines-out but the defence held out … just. And then hat-trick hero Baker tried strong arm tactics but in trying to take a man too high he allowed Usk through. The resulting converted try brought the score to 36-37 and Monmouth were pleased to win a penalty which they kicked finally to touch for the closest shave of a long while. But a win is a win and the Monmouth boys hopefully will be able to build on the good points for their next league game away against Tredegar Ironsides on 7 January. If supporters cannot join them there, they are being encouraged to come to the clubhouse on Tuesday 17 January to share in a Question and Answer session with management and team representatives from Gwent Dragons. Further details available from the Club. |