A game against Blaenavon Forge Side RFC is difficult enough without catering for adverse elements. Monmouth Druids challenge was to maintain their top of the table battle at the same time face a gale force wind on a pitch which was stamina sapping. Playing into the wind in the first half, the Druids task was to win possession of the ball and keep it, thus denying Forge Side the opportunity to use the elements to their advantage. The Druids pack showed great skill and determination in doing just that. Such was their dominance that Forge Side rarely looked like threatening the Druids line. In fact the Druids took the lead with a fine opportunist try. Forge Side won scrimmage ball and it was fed to their outside half who spilt the ball over his own line. Druids scrum half Andy Tansil anticipated a possible mistake and pounced on the ball to score a valuable try. The conversion kick failed but the score gave the Druids a valuable lead playing into the adverse conditions. The second half must have seemed to be a formality for the Druids as they foresaw an easy period of play using the strong wind. Perceptively the momentum of the Druids pack subsided and Forge Side contained the visitor’s advances. For fully 20 minutes they posed questions of the Druids and the game was in the balance. At last the Druids gained their composure and in the best piece of rugby in the match scored a fine try to make the game safe. Outside Half Greg Wilding broke on the blind side of a scrum and sped up field to the half way line. He passed to supporting Number Eight Dion Hurinui who made ground and gave a nicely timed pass to left wing Chris Taylor who raced in from the 22 metre line. To the surprise of almost everyone present Greg Wilding kicked the conversion from the touchline, judging the wind perfectly. Forge Side heads dropped a little and the Druids looked to add to their score. Deep in their 22 metre area Forge Side won a scrum but the ball squeezed out of control over the try line. Back row forward Gabby Hilu who had only just got on as a substitute dived on the ball for another opportunist try which Greg Wilding converted to make the score 19-0. Incidentally it was his only touch of the ball in the match. An expected victory for the Druids but not in the assured way they will have hoped for. A fine first half performance of control and courage followed by the worst 20 minutes of the season which if not addressed would have cost them the game. Outstanding for the Druids were Flanker Brad Morgan and Scrum Half Andy Tansil whose tackling around the fringes of ruck and maul was important. Number Eight Dion Hurinui made some stirring runs and was unlucky not to score. Substitute Matt Hurst who came on as prop helped steady the ship and gave the scrimmage forward momentum.
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