Following two successive home defeats, Monmouth Druids were looking to stop this trend when they faced Usk in a Ivor Jones Cup quarter final game on their ground. Their thoughts must also have been about creating a little piece of local rugby history if they could defeat Usk on three occasions on their own patch. The first twenty minutes dictated the course of the game as the Druids dominated the play. Their forwards particularly had the upper hand in scrimmage and lineout – in fact in all phases of play. So much ball was won that wave after wave of Druids attacks put Usk firmly on the back foot. The Druids varied their play from forward drives to using their three-quarter line. At half time the Druids led by 34 points to 5 points which must have surprised most of the spectators and shocked the Usk side. The second half saw the Druids bring on their substitutes but the team performance was unaffected as they relentlessly put Usk to the sword. The traditionally strong Usk forwards were being totally outplayed by the Druids Eight. Usk did have one player who stood out. That was centre Andy Farrall who tackled tenaciously and scored two excellent tries. He showed up some of the defensive frailties of the Druids midfield. The final score was Usk 12 points the Druids 49 points, a convincing and thorough away victory. The Druids scored eight tries through Mattie Morgan (2 ), Andy Tansill ( 2 ), Stuart Boylan ( 2 ). Ian Jeffs. and Gareth Jones. Rob Frost kicked three conversions and one penalty goal. In a wonderful pack performance, Stuart Boylan was outstanding, winning lots of ball on the floor and tackling strongly. The backs showed better form scoring six of the eight tries, with Rob Frost controlling the game. So was history being created, well no one in the Monmouth club can remember it happening before. Maybe some rugby anorak can unearth the facts from over 100 years of fixtures between the two rivals. |