Fixture

Monmouth RFC 1st XV v Ynysddu RFC

WRU Div 1 East

Saturday 30 Dec 2023

Monmouth 18 Ynysddu 19

Local fans were less than usual unsurprisingly for the return fixture with visitors Ynysddu last Saturday given the stormy weather and even worse warnings.

Having lost to them only 18-15 away in mid September, hopes were high of reversing the result even though the visitors are now near to heading the league table top having failed to win in only two of their 9 games this season as opposed to Monmouth winning only four of their 12 games to date.

With this in mind the home team set off at a pace that surprised their opponents, moving the ball freely through slick and determined attacks and racking up 13 points to none inside the first eleven minutes through one converted try and two well taken penalty kicks. Whilst the strong corner to corner wind was there to help, Monmouth were content to press hard with ball in hand but apart from a good try by centre Dunmore which full back Tabb converted, the Ynysddu defence rebuffed the numerous approaches to their line.

Having gradually gained in confidence Ynysddu began to run the ball back out of defence and would almost certainly have scored but for a show-stopping tackle by Tabb on a centre who attempted to score himself rather than pass to an unmarked team-mate on his left.

Goal kicking was difficult in the wind as Tabb found out when the post intervened in attempted kicks at goal but the visitors were next to score on the half hour with a penalty to open their account.

Some of the play from both sides was inspiring with slick passing and speedy incursions but many a slip ‘twixt cup and lip saw opportunities go begging until a lengthy break out by the visitors ended with a knock on with play returned the full length of the field for a try from right wing Thomas which sadly went unconverted. Half-time arrived but would 18-3 be sufficient of a lead with the strong gusting wind about to be against them?

And so it was to unfold. Within minutes Ynysddu had kicked three points from a penalty and Monmouth thereafter were continually pinned in the bottom left hand corner as fly half Tovey used his considerable kicking skills and tactical nous to maintain that pressure. 

Monmouth battled hard and largely held their own at set pieces although attempts at long-ish lines-out not unexpectedly went awry in wind causing skew throw-ins. Equally, attempts to run balls back out of their 22 or kicks to touch were achieving little territory and even when they did they were easily reversed by judicious kicks deep into the corner.

It took under a quarter of an hour for this battering to pay off as a try near the post edged them nearer at 18-13 and two further successful penalty kicks took them into the lead with more than 20 minutes to play.

Monmouth tried their very best but every time they encroached they were set back by measured deep kicks to force them to rebuild again.

Some clearer opportunities arose and one in particular was when a floated pass in a Monmouth attack near the 22 appeared to be deliberately knocked on when the prospect of a try seemed realistic, but the referee thought otherwise ordering just a scrum.

Monmouth threw everything at their visitors but time and booming kicks of 65 metres and more were cleverly used against them with the final whistle bringing Ynysddu yet another close win with just a further losing bonus point for the home team.

Next Saturday it is Blaenavon away which again promises to be a tough call.