Monmouth were riding high and were looking forward to the challenge of playing Garndiffaith who were league leaders by only a small points difference, and the first 15 minutes raised their hopes even more. Monmouth had the bulk of the territorial advantage and were threatening to break through the eager defence of the home side, so much in fact that they were forced to kill the ball whenever they could resulting in a penalty virtually in front of their posts. Fly half for the day, Ben Berry, did not disappoint to gain the first score and a 0-3 lead. But this was just what the Garn needed and their excellent full back changed the course of the game with a personal show of brilliance which saw the home side run the length of the field to score on the right wing for a 7-3 setback which was quite against the run of play up until then. Monmouth responded well and within a few minutes this time the home team hooker again killed the ball coming into the side of a ruck and received a yellow card for his trouble but sadly Berry missed the penalty kick. Again Garndiffaith’s backs were to respond with a fluid long distance move which outflanked the Monmouth cover defence, making them rue their weakness at this stage in making their first up tackles and in the easy way they handed back possession to the eager Garndiffaith youngsters. The talented full back was consistently adding even the most difficult conversions and Monmouth found themselves 14-3 down inside the first half hour.. Play see-sawed but with less penetration by Monmouth than earlier in the game as the opposing side were strong in the tackle and first to the rucks and in numbers. But then came a show-stopping try started from a quick penalty deep in the home 22 by their star full-back, and thanks to strong running and excellent support play and a few serious missed tackles, play was taken deep into Monmouth’s left flank and then was moved back to mid-field for a try and easy conversion. At 21-3 with just a few minutes to half-time made one wonder about Monmouth’s prospects and when a Monmouth prop who should know better if only by reasons of age was sent to the sin-bin for a late and high tackle who would have expected Monmouth to claw back three points from a penalty kick just on half-time? The Garn hooker again killed the ball, but despite his earlier yellow card for the same offence, why he only received a stern telling off from the referee who otherwise had a good game is beyond this writer. The sides having turned around, Monmouth very much needed an early score but it was the Garn who were to score first from a penalty almost from the kick off when a Monmouth player was caught from a deep kick without support and paid dearly for holding onto the ball in the tackle. Monmouth fought back almost immediately but a dropped pass prevented an almost certain try but the pressure was maintained and when the ball at last went right along the line wing David Venter went over but too far out for the conversion. Defence was all as hard running centre Lane was clattered by both opposing centres; the turn over ball being spun out to the speedy left wing to run in untouched for yet another touchline conversion and a 31-11 scoreline. Despite this Monmouth were playing with more vigour amongst the forwards now resulting in a yellow card for both sides following fisticuffs. Somehow this spurred the visitors some more and following play deep in the Garn 22 and a succession of rucks, the ball was spun right and then left through many hands for left wing substitute Tom Baker to complete an easy try in a very kickable position not far from the posts. Both sides now equalled each other for a prolonged period until a Monmouth flanked was adjudged to have slowed down clearance at a ruck and paid a ten minute penalty on the side-line. Legs were tiring and the one man deficit at last told allowing the home team to run in a try in each corner before the close plus another conversion. Monmouth’s hopes of going top were dashed even though te final score flattered in what had been a hard fought game which Monmouth could have won if they had only capitalised on early advantage, cut out some of the later handling errors and avoided kicking the ball away to an ace counter-attacker. With these thoughts in mind and the return of a few key injured players, the return game in early February will be just as hard fought but could see a change of result. Perhaps the dampening of earlier high hopes will help Monmouth improve. The friendly return game at Blaenavon next week should provide the opportunity to rebuild a little.
|