At the unusually clement venue of Abersychan Rugby Club, Monmouth Druids were seeking to win a league game using a strong squad of players. Mild, warm, weather greeted both teams as the Druids were looking to continue their successful start to the season. The heavier Abersychan eight, playing down the slight slope, made a real impact particularly at the scrummage where they forced the Druids to back pedal regularly at a rate of knots. The Druids were surprisingly sluggish as the home forwards imposed themselves on the visitors. It seemed inevitable that Abersychan would score first as the Druids defended furiously. It was no surprise then, when from a penalty awarded against the Druids for throwing the ball out of play, Abersychan scored the opening try. A quickly taken tap penalty was finally finished off when an Abersychan second row forced himself over for an unconverted try. On the rare occasion the Druids won good ball for their backs they showed themselves to be superior to their opponents, who were content to kick away possession. Unexpectantly, the Druids took the lead, when from a surging run from number eight Dion Hurinui, outside half Greg Wilding was on hand to dive over near the posts. He duly completed the job by converting the try to give the Druids a narrow lead at half time. Playing down the slope in the second half, the game started to change as the Druids stabilised their scrum and their backs immediately looked dangerous. The forwards won good ball and the ball was fed to Greg Wilding who split the home defence as he scythed through to score an unconverted try. The Druids held the upper hand now and looked to add to their slender lead. That’s exactly what they did when again Dion Hurinui picked up the ball from a scrum on the Abersychan twenty two metre line and drove hard towards the try line. He burst through three or four would be tacklers and dived over near the posts. Greg Wilding converted to give the Druids a 19-5 lead. Abersychan were not done however and following pressure on the Druids line they scored another try which was again unconverted. Almost immediately, as if the Druids the felt the result was in doubt, they scored another try. Full back Will Price, fed wing Mattie Morgan who evaded the home defence to score in the corner. Greg Wilding missed the conversion kick but the match was won. 24-10. Another league victory against determined opposition who took some wearing down. Outstanding were Dion Hurinui as he was difficult to stop and never died with the ball. Veteran Andy Tansil was everywhere, particularly in defence whilst all the forwards dug deep to turn the game in favour of the Druids. Of course, Greg Wilding’s scoring potential is vital and Will Davies’s kicking out of hand was important.
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