1XV v Machen (Home) 06 Mar 2010

Monmouth League Loss

With everyone eager to get back to the Swalec League following the distraction of the Internationals, no matter how exciting their finales, Saturday offered near perfect conditions for a visit to the Sports ground from Machen. A further three weeks before the next competitive opportunity made the occasion even more important.

Monmouth started well and went near within three minutes when hooker Craig Nicholas followed up a chip kick only to have the ball turned over a few feet from the Machen line.

With Monmouth initially the stronger it took a deliberate knock on by the visitors to prevent a promising move to the left wing going all the way but the referee obviously felt it was still some way out and awarded only a penalty kick.

He was ‘pie-hot’ when it came to people remaining on their feet giving many penalties both ways and with full back Dave Brace just shaving the outside of the post on one early occasion before opening the scoring 25 minutes into the game.

This stirred Machen and as play loosened up near half-time they scored what was to be the highest spot of the game with 50 yard of pacey inter-passing down the right, outflanking the various forwards frequenting that side if the field at that time.

With 10 minutes to go Monmouth fought back but unfortunately fell foul of the firm but fair referee giving away a kickable penalty for entering a ruck from the side.

But 3-10 down with the slope advantage to come all was not lost but the opening kick-off failed to reach the 10 metre line conceding possession to Machen who took full advantage and pressured the home line consistently, saved only by the ball being dropped over the line in the act of scoring try.

Monmouth’s defence was robust wit much credit going to their fly-half Rhys Ricketts for his personal tally of around 5 turn-overs which won him the Man of the Match Award but it was Machen who added to their score first with another penalty this time for interference in a defending line-out.

Monmouth were fighting back all the while and with sufficient vigour for one of their backs being taken out illegally as he kicked ahead. Whether the tackler led with his legs for a trip was adjudged not so by the referee but the subsequent penalty closed the gap to 6-13 with again all to play for.

But in their desperation Monmouth transgressed within range of their posts and Machen edged away to 6-19 for ruck and line-out fouls.

Monmouth now threw caution to the winds which unavoidably played somewhat into Machen’s hands because open play was more their forte on the day and they eventually stretched the home defence enough to create the overlap on Monmouth’s right flank which gave them another try which they converted.

Monmouth still had 2 minutes of injury time to gain some reward for their endeavours but despite a penalty kick to the corner for a line-out they were to lose it and Machen cleared to touch for the final whistle to seal their deserved 6-26 win.

To cheer up Club Members, the programme announced that ticket orders were now being taken for the Wales v S Africa game on 5 June with application forms and family ticket deals available on the club’s web-site to be returned no later than 1 April.