Monmouth have the makings of a winning team but changes in personnel through injury or unavailability and the lack of clear heads at times of crisis are letting them down at the final hurdle. Last Saturday Llandaff were the league visitors and the game set off at a cracking pace with action from end to end and a missed penalty each in the first five minutes. But it was the next mixed penalty by Llandaff that was crucial because it was knocked on by the catcher, Monmouth conceded the scrum that followed and quick passing by the visitors saw their right wing outflank the Monmouth defence for the first score of the game seven minutes into the game. Against the run of play certainly as Monmouth must have had about 80% of possession at this stage but lightning struck for the second time only three minutes later when having kicked deep to the Llandaff corner, the ball was run back and the counter-attackers kicked, secured a lucky bounce leaving Monmouth a 0-12 mountain to climb. Try as they might and helped a little by a Greg Wilding penalty for going over in the ruck, Monmouth were soon to go further behind when as a result of good inter-passing and backing up by Llandaff, weak tackling allowed them to be outflanked for a further try and still little more than the end of the first quarter. At 3-17 down the mountain became even more steep when the visitors dropped a goal from the 10 metre line. Monmouth in the meantime was struggling with what was allowed by way of the handling at the ruck producing a succession of penalties that were continually losing them hard won possession and field position. The half time whistle approaching Monmouth surged and a rolling maul resulted in a try converted by fly half Wilding and the learning of two lessons. Second row John Powell appreciates his strength and skills are more obviously appreciated in the lines-out where he and Harvey Morgan again had good games, and in the tight rather than at centre or wing. Ollie Gray learned in particular that after doing the hard work there is always someone with more guile at hand to seize the glory and the crucial score. But a 10-20 half time change-over score at least now let Monmouth back into the game and they must have been regretting the number of penalty decisions they conceded in the previous 40 minutes. The referee’s interpretations may seem wrong but he always wins in the end so it is worth cottoning on quickly and consistently to his requirements. Having been charged with taking more individual responsibility by their Coach Monmouth began as if they had something to prove and to the horror of the team manager they chipped away possession in the right corner only for it to bounce around the out-stretched hands of the Llandaff defenders and for the equally tall right wing of Monmouth Jack Butler to steal it and score an unconverted try. It was now game on at 15-20 and soon after the Llandaff’s defensive challenge became greater upon losing their No.8 to a yellow card for hands in the ruck. The game went from end to end continually and the reasonable crowd were entertained well for their money and particularly so in the last five minutes as Monmouth near bust a gut in trying to take the match. But it was not to be. A few decisions by the referee did not go their way but most of all despite battering the visitors’ line, three distinct opportunities of winning the game were lost to fairly basic errors in decision making or execution. Llandaff had been let off the hook and they knew it but it was they who took the league points away with them. They will be harder to beat in the return fixture so a degree of re-grouping will be necessary for Monmouth. But first Gwernyfed is the next challenge away next week How could they put in such a finale and not score? Minds stray away to Wales’ next big occasion when they play potential World Cup winners, South Africa on November 24 to try to restore their tarnished reputation at Cardiff. Members who want tickets are urged to get their orders in soon as they are due away soon for what should be a tremendous game and at relatively reduced prices, too!
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