Monmouth RFC started the season so well and yet had now accumulated sufficient injuries, lack of availability and confidence for it to be clear early in the game against Old Illtydians in Cardiff last Saturday that they would again struggle to repeat their previous form. Whilst attendance at training is reasonably healthy with fitness levels encouraging, poor communication on the field and a distinct lack of vigour is keeping them on the back foot. Flashes of skill and good moves are apparent from time to time but more often individual efforts are inadequately supported. Essential tackling is at times disastrously high and/or weak. Spirits will certainly be raised prior to this coming Saturday’s home game against Llandaff as 9 December sees the first viewing of their new strip which has been generously sponsored by Lexus Cardiff. From the kick-off on the grassy if steep Llanrumney pitch, Monmouth found themselves under pressure but their defence held out until the 17 th minute when a missed tackle gave the home team enough men in space to easily cross the line on the right flank although the kick went unconverted. This setback spurred Monmouth and Gareth Morgan was soon to make one of his tell-tale and penetrative bursts upfield (literally) from a quick penalty. When blocked by the cover defence his kick ahead was hacked on by open-side flanker Mike Griffiths for Morgan to dive over on the ball. Fly-half Dave Croudace added the twp points for Monmouth to take a 5-7 lead. Sadly this was to last only a further seven minutes because the marauding home team found it easy going through missed tackles down the slope to score yet another unconverted try to keep the pressure on the visitors. A penalty for coming into the ruck from the side stretched the lead to 13-7 but Croudace responded with one of his own minutes before half-time with the teams changing ends at 13-10. With everything to play for the Monmouth coach begged for more fire in general and better leg tackling in particular. Once the bright winter sun had died the right hand corner was the place to attack as the lowest part of the ground. A missed penalty by Croudace just after the kick-off did little to raise the enthusiasm and whilst Monmouth gave more of themselves this half, when Old Illtydians next broke through in the centre it was clear there was a complete absence of back row cover to hinder the attack. The conversion again stretched the gap to two scores being needed with a good half hour to go but although Monmouth now became more combative some of the energy ended up in fisticuffs rather than points on the board. A player from both sides got a cooling off period for relatively little but the referee had judged that this was the way to end the skirmishes that were developing. Monmouth gradually were building up pressure but the home team got away with slowing down the ball on several occasions until their temperamental full back lost his temper trying to take a quick line-out throw which was frustrated by a spectator first handling the ball. He did not take his subsequent yellow card with good grace and this seemed to spur Monmouth for what they thought was another ten minutes of play including injury time. Perversely the referee blew amazingly early to remove any hopes Monmouth may have had of turning the tables although the way they had played made two further scores unlikely. And this time they could not blame the weather nor a boggy pitch – only themselves. Spirits are likely to be raised this coming Saturday, however, when Monmouth first air their newly sponsored kit, courtesy of Lexus Cardiff. The class brand of car should sit comfortably with the stylish rugby that Monmouth can play when at their best, but first they need to start winning again. Graeme Mathews, Lexus Cardiff’s Centre manager who has already sponsored Monmouth’s Under 13s says “We are proud to sponsor Monmouth’s rugby teams from grass roots level upwards. We wish Monmouth the best of luck for Saturday in this very important game.” The Juniors responded to his support earlier this season by winning their way through to the Lexus UK Finals in April 2007, and it is to be hoped that such generosity brings the same degree of success to the Senior side in the remainder of this season’s League Division 4 efforts and in the coming years.
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