A trip to Crumlin late in the season is always a challenge with the risk of drafted players, but this year more-so, as Monmouth are still on course for third place in their league whilst Crumlin are in danger of leaving it. And so it showed in the first half with a determined home pack bullying the visitors successfully made somewhat easier by fairly ineffectual refereeing. In fact it was a full fifteen minutes before Monmouth could make their first clear incursion into the Crumlin half, but at least the pressure was easing as Monmouth’s back row were able to put their hosts under the same pressure they had been on the receiving end of. Play see-sawed from end to end on a hard, dry and sunlit pitch until Monmouth got near the home line and first ran it right and then switched it to the other flank when left wing Dawid Venter squeezed just inside the corner flag to score the first try of the game. Full-back Matt King converted the difficult kick to set the scene for a starring role contributing an overall 18 points by the final whistle. Crumlin realised that their season needed something more positive then trying to dominate forward and following a fairly harsh decision by the referee at a line-out near the Monmouth line some quick thinking by their impressive scrum-half brought an unconverted try from a quick penalty on the half hour. Boosted by this success, Crumlin raised their game some more and near to half-time they crashed over from a driving maul near enough to the posts for a conversion and a 12-7 half-time lead. The Coach was unimpressed by the Monmouth effort to say the least, emphasising the need to improve the scrums and dominate up front as well as questioning the way in which Monmouth were coming second best in the tackle area despite the younger players individually putting themselves about. But Monmouth had little chance to heed his encouraging words, losing 2 nd Row John Powell within two minutes to an exceptionally harsh yellow card, from which Crumlin failed to benefit with the penalty kick. If one man down was a drawback, losing their captain Kelly Lehmann to yet another harsh ten minute suspension within a further five minutes required Monmouth to dig deep. This they did but could not prevent two further reverses both following mauls, making their task seemingly impossible at 24-7 down with 25 minutes of ordinary time left. But the combination of youthful enthusiasm and cool thinking from old heads saw No8 Mike Griffiths charge way down the pitch. Although he was tackled 15 yards short, Monmouth quickly recycled the ball and scrum half Gareth Morgan typically shot off and round the defenders to score under the posts. King again did not disappoint. Crumlin were rattled and kicked short at the drop-out to give Monmouth a scrum on half way. Once again Morgan was quick off the mark and following a ruck saw King score in the right corner but this time his kick was pulled left. Not to be outdone Monmouth kept on the pressure as Crumlin tired and their players began falling like flies in the unseasonable warm weather. Soon they fell off-side and King added again to his total bringing the score to 24-22 and still with fifteen minutes to go not counting the growing stoppage time. Monmouth were now playing flowing rugby and running the home team ragged. Right wing Hugh Tatham scored next with great determination in the right corner and King stroked a difficult kick cleanly between the uprights to take the lead 24-29 with only a couple of normal minutes left. But Crumlin could not afford to lose and with their voluble supporters spurring them on Monmouth badly mis-fielded a high ball 17 yards from their line and the visiting supporters in turn feared the worst. Crumlin pummelled the visitors’ line but the Monmouth defence held firm despite two short penalties near the line. Upon rebuffing the last of these, Morgan again showed his pace running almost the length of the field to score under the posts for King to again convert stretching the lead to 24-36. Crumlin now looked crumpled and so it showed when in the best move of the day with forwards prominent, first Stacey Edwards made much ground in his low, almost burrowing way, Harvey Morgan was up as usual in support, to feed on to Kelly Lehmann who quickly moved the ball on to Tatham who cut in from his wing to wrong-foot the remnants of the defence. With the kick after almost eight minutes of injury time King made it 24-43 to round off an excellent, even dazzling, final quarter. All they have to do now is replicate that form to deprive Nantyglo of the third spot they also crave at home next Saturday to crown their best season for many years. A good crowd should help them ensure such an outcome!
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