Top of the league undefeated newcomers, Gwernyfed, spoilt Monmouth’s trip into the gloriously picturesque Beacons last Saturday, when almost entirely through their own mistakes they lost 24-6. Although Monmouth took a side containing many Second team players none of them disgraced themselves. In fact the strength the forwards brought to the pack proved the very thing that set Gwernyfed back on their heels many a time and had them doubting what is obviously their normally strong point. Monmouth made their typically poor start: first knocking on the opening kick of the game from which they failed to recover and the Home Team was able to put the first three point penalty on the board within two minutes. And worse still with only another minute gone, the inexperience or perhaps over confidence of Jack Butler playing at full back showed the opposition right wing the outside space only to find his opponent had used it and gone before he could put in the necessary try saving tackle. 10-0 down inside the first five minutes was the start of a mountain to climb , but the visitors got stuck in. Centre Dave Brace just missed a penalty kick to lift spirits. And with the half-backs linking noticeably well together with a solid front five and No. 8 Adam Seymour leading the charges, Gwernyfed for virtually all of the first half were on the back foot. Monmouth’s fierce rucking was helping them gain ground and rattling their hosts and only long line touches by Gwernyfed’s fly-half on a relatively small pitch were setting Monmouth back and making them battle up the slope again. An occasional Gwernyfed foray caused Monmouth to dig deep and on one particular occasion it took a try saving tackle to dislodge the ball in the very action of touching down. Monmouth rallied and continued to play the bulk of the game in the visitors half. Half-time came five minutes early courtesy of a referee who did everything else right which may have proved critical with hindsight. Gwernyfed were certainly ‘under the cosh’ as they say for much of the half and looking forward to half-time respite. Duly taken they came out refreshed and at the very time Monmouth needed to continue their earlier dominance, a communications error under the high ball let a Gwernyfed centre hack on loose ball for another converted try and a 17-3 scoreline. Not down hearted Monmouth again stormed back and put their opponents under such physical pressure that they began to resort to fisticuffs and even worse, but this only gave greater encouragement to the Monmouth boys although they were not able to cross the line because of the in your face defence of the Gwernyfed backs. Dave Brace kicked a penalty to inch their way back and at one stage missed another 45 yard kick by no more than six feet. Fracas aplenty there were as Monmouth refused to be intimidated and Monmouth showed their tight play superiority wining a couple of strikes against the head but it was not to be their day as a slightly laboured move by the backs and a floated pass which Gwernyfed seized upon to run in an interception try under the posts clinched it for the home team. 24-6 was nowhere near a true reflection of the game but as Gwernyfed march on in the league Monmouth can only feel proud of the way they stuck at it but they will need to ponder on what they will need to do to avoid giving away silly tries this Saturday when they play Pyle away in the Cup.
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