With great things hoped for at Twickenham last Saturday, Monmouth RFC at times played like it was that game which was on their mind rather than defeating the Risca team confronting them. Whilst their defence was largely sterling it was only from mental lapses and missed tackles that allowed Risca to put 20 points on the board with no response, to sneak past Monmouth and out of the lower reaches of the league table. The pitch was its usual boggy self for this rearranged early kick off and despite a thorough warm up, the very first kick off put Monmouth on the back foot giving a scrum to the home team. From then on for a full 20 minutes it was heads down and defend which Monmouth did splendidly and even longer before they were able to venture out of their own half for the very first time. In fact so well did they defend that they must have cast doubts in Risca’s minds as to their attacking abilities. At last things began to come together with Monmouth now in foreign territory, driving well, but an all to common turnover by Risca saw them move the ball swiftly right to score in the right hand corner. The conversion out of the mud failed as would all bar two of the kicks at goal that day. Monmouth rallied and were stopped only by a high tackle on the ball carrier but although nearer the posts than Risca’s earlier attempt this kick also missed. Soon Risca’s scrum half was yellow-carded for throwing a punch but from the line-out following the penalty a poor throw-in was symptomatic of Monmouth’s day and the pressure on them was once again relieved. Still to turn around only 5-0 down showed how brilliantly Monmouth had defended in a half where they had little more than 15% of the territory. More concentration and purposeful play and a good first ten minutes should set the scene for a Monmouth resurgence but it was not to be. Monmouth took the re-start and although the follow up was whole-hearted the concentration was not, and Risca responded with a burst by one of their forwards which eneded up with having to defend in the five yard area again. Risca took advantage of a Monmouth indiscretion and increased their lead to 8 points from a penalty kick but Monmouth soon after had poorer luck, failing with a penalty kick of their own. Monmouth were rallying and scrum-half Gareth Morgan briefly sparkled down the left and again on the right to separately put both wingmen away but the Risca defence was too good on each occasion. Penalties again went awry and with it looking like it was not going to be Monmouth’s day, the thought of the warm clubhouse and the promised curry at half-time in the International seemed a greater attraction than another 20 minutes play. Risca however were still firing and their lively centre took advantage of quick ball at a ruck breaking through some weak tackling to score near the posts aiding the one and only conversion of the day. The mud was cloying now and more-so on the boots of the Monmouth players who whilst they kept trying had already lost any spring that there might be in their legs. The consequence was a further drive over the line by the Risca pack and a 20-0 defeat. Still at least the International was exciting and there is the Gentleman’s Dinner to come in the Boys School this coming Friday and a week’s rest before battle resumes at Llandaff on the 16th where Monmouth will be determined to get back on track again.
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