Easter is a traditional time for lots of rugby and so it was for Monmouth this last weekend, but they could have done with winning a game or two as well. The weekend began with a staged veterans’ game between the Town team and Monmouth School Staff designed to be a practice match for those ‘oldies’ who are part of the Club Tour to New Jersey at the end of May, but they will need to polish up their act if they are to maintain their unbeaten record when on tour. After an awful start with the School Staff (and some rather illustrious former players) putting 21 points on their opponents in the space of eight minutes from which Monmouth were bound to struggle to recover. Short on numbers because of holidays, several Youth players joined in to make up the numbers and acquitted themselves exceedingly well with one, Ed Wheeler, finishing off a fine move on the left flank with a debut try in the corner to add to a similarly clever one in the first half by former 1 st XV full back from ages ago, Rob Andrew. A large crowd saw Monmouth claw their way back for a while either side of half-time but when fatigue and aching joints set in, their largely younger opponents drew away again for a 10-45 victory. But fun was had by virtually all, some of the injured notwithstanding, and there is agreement in principle to make it an annual fixture in future complete with a trophy. Some of the 1stXV wisely saved themselves for the league game against Rhiwbina on Saturday but may now be wondering whether they should have joined the Good Friday runabout rather than suffer yet another league defeat. Despite the threats of awful weather, apart from a howling wind and a very bouncy pitch the day was made for fast and furious play but Monmouth stumbled at the very first hurdle. From fielding the kick-off Monmouth drove to within 23 yards of their opponents’ line only to concede a penalty and then successively a further 30 yards for repeated dissent. Rhiwbina delighted in the ‘let-off’ and crossed the Monmouth line for their first try with the game only two minutes old and with a referee who then seemed determined to give nothing Monmouth’s way for much of the first half which did little for Monmouth’s demeanour. True the Cardiff club’s line-out was far superior as was their driving and mauling but Monmouth tackled like demons and could not be faulted for their continual commitment and by the end of the game had shown their strength by winning two strikes against the head. But Rhiwbina had strong runners, and their very direct running found weaknesses in tackling that leaked four tries by the end of the game and an important bonus point as well. Monmouth had their chances and left wing Gareth Jones finished off a well worked move on the left flank beating two men to score in the corner, but on two occasions the ball was kicked ahead when with hindsight it might have been better to take the contact and await support. A measure of Monmouth’s luck on the day apart from further injuries to key players and a penalty try for hands in the ruck in the first half, was their almost scoring at the very end only for the referee to blow up after what was perceived as a very paltry single minute of injury time after so many stoppages particularly during the second half. But worse news was to came as sadly the Druids were to lose as well which was not surprising as they struggled for a side, not helped by their obligation to feed some players into the away game at Rhiwbina. Games are always hard against Abergavenny but a full Druids side could have been expected to triumph yet again over their near neighbours and especially given their superior league position but it was not meant to be and they completed a trio of losses for the Club in the space of 24 hours with a 17-20 reversal. And at the same time Monmouth Youth were trying their damnedest against Dowlais, a far better schooled heads of the valleys side which is not surprising as this is the local boys’ first season at this level and their 12-39 loss will have brought encouragement for them as well as the future of the Club. It is they who will soon be replacing the many veterans in the overall Monmouth set up and it is youth, speed, vigour and uninjured players that the Club is currently short of but at least it is a Club where playing rugby is still about having fun and long may Easter Festivals, veterans’ games, end of season tours and their like last! But then it is back to the grindstone next week with a home league game against Tredegar Ironsides, when it is hoped the injured will have returned from the treatment tables or their beds to give all the teams a fighting chance again.
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