MONMOUTH BOYS DUAL VICTORY IN THE BLACK MOUNTAINS Monmouth U10’s travelled into the Black Mountains for their away fixture at Talgarth against Gwernyfed. Monmouth started the game as if the longer than usual journey had taken its toll. A sluggish start saw the home side score three tries in the first five minutes, two of which were converted to give Gwernyfed a 19-0 lead. Monmouth were stirred from their slumber by the forwards who made ground with a series of drives to the Gwernyfed line. The resulting maul saw Owen Hughes drive over for the Monmouth boys first score. The extra points by Jamie Norman brought the boys back into the game at 19-7. Monmouth were now starting to put a series of phases together and some excellent forward play created an opportunity for Tom Baker to draw the defence and put Jamie Norman clear on the outside. Jamie outpaced the covering defence to touchdown in the corner and also added the extra points to make the score 19-14. Monmouth were now playing to their true potential and it was not long before they were rewarded with the final try of the half. Great interplay between forwards and backs resulted in Josh Reid crashing over. With Jamie Norman adding the conversion, Monmouth entered the interval two points up 21-19. The second period saw the Monmouth boys take control of the game. The half time team talk by coach Hughes stressed the importance of closing down the opposition backs. Two huge tackles by Jamie Norman and Tom Baker put Gwernyfed immediately on the back foot and it was not long before the now dominant Monmouth boys added to their score. A scrum close to the opposition line saw a quick heel and the sniping scrum half Charlie Gowling darted over for an excellent score. Charlie quickly added a second try to his tally in similar vein, both converted by Jamie Norman to make the score 35-19 to Monmouth. Monmouth were now playing some excellent rugby and an excellent run and finish by Henry Breeze and a drive over the line by Owen Hughes saw Monmouth add two more tries to their tally. Jamie Norman converted both to maintain a 100% kicking record on the day and make the final score 49-19 to Monmouth. The U11’s also took on Gwernyfed in what proved to be a real thriller. Gwernyfed started the game in positive fashion and quickly scored an excellent try which was converted to give the home side a 7-0 lead. Monmouth came storming back and the livewire Liam O Hare darted over to make the score 7-5. A highlight of the performance was the sterling defence and especially the aggressive tackling of Henry Lee, who repeatedly drove the Gwernyfed boys back in the tackle. Another breakaway try by Gwernyfed which was converted meant the boys were 14-5 down at the interval. The start of the second period saw an exerted phase of pressure which resulted in Josh Reid driving over. At 14-10 the Monmouth boys could taste victory. However, a score by Gwernyfed made the score 21-10 going into the last five minutes. The Monmouth boys roused themselves and scored a quick try which was converted to make the score 21-17. A series of drives set up a barnstorming finish and some great interplay resulted in a scrum on the Gwernyfed line. The referee called last play so it really was do or die for the Monmouth boys. A quick heel from hooker Henry Mayall gave Liam O Hare the time to dash around the blind side and ground the ball under extreme pressure to secure a marvellous victory for the under 11’s 24-21.
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