The Druids latest league game was against opponents they hadn't faced in some thirty plus years. West Mon O B’s came to Monmouth with little or no knowledge of their playing record. They had the better of the opening quarter but only had a penalty goal to show for their efforts. Gradually the Druids got into the game without displaying any fluency as too many poor passes and fumbles spoilt their attacking play. However, from a series of rucks and mauls in the West Mon 22 metre area, Harvey Morgan crashed over for Huw Adams to convert. Suddenly it was all Monmouth as a series of attacks set the visitors back onto their try line. A rolling maul saw new Zimbabwean Hooker Max White touch down for an unconverted try. Then the best try of the match as the Druids backs hit a bit of form as all the passes stuck and from an inside run centre Gareth Jones raced behind the posts. Huw Adams had the easiest of kicks to give the home side a 19-3 lead. There was one more score in the half when Centre John Jeffs broke on the blind side, he sold an outrageous dummy and scored in the corner for an unconverted try. The second half saw West Mon put the Druids under pressure but the home team were the next to score. West Mon won the ball at a scrum but the pass to the Outside Half was a poor looped effort. Huw Adams snatched the ball and sped over from the 22 metre line. His conversion kick failed. Maybe the Druids relaxed but West Mon hit back determinedly. They scored two unconverted tries in opposite corners of the field. Firstly from the close play of the forwards and secondly from an overlap created by their threequarters. The Druids made hard work of this victory but they could blame the cause to be another unsettled side. A number of players were on holiday or unavailable. This showed by no authority in their play and many moves breaking down through poor handling and disorganisation. An exception to this malaise was Harvey Morgan who has scored 5 tries in 3 consecutive games. Four league successes in six matches is a good start, but improvements can be made. |