Fixture

Nelson RFC v Monmouth RFC 1st XV

WRU Div 1 East

Saturday 25 Nov 2023

Nelson 21 Monmouth 25

Highlights produced by The Bearded Analyst                                                             

With variable performances in the previous two weeks with first a good win at Abergavenny and then a disappointing loss at home to Bedlinog, the pre-match talk was all about how aroused or switched on visitors Monmouth would be from the start. And to their credit within three minutes they had attacked and from a grubber kick slightly fortuitously rebounding off a defender’s leg and taken by a team-mate brought an off-side  penalty which wing Tabb slotted for an early three point lead.

But Nelson had warmed up, too, and were quickly back in Monmouth territory trying to drive a set piece scrum but illegally thus allowing the visitors to ease the pressure upon themselves. This was repeated several times including Nelson being deprived of a score for crossing just prior to doing so.

Choosing to drive a midfield scrum some 20 metres really set the scene for what the Monmouth were having to face throughout

Until, that is, following a promising three quarter move deep into home territory which fell foul of a fumbled pass into touch, a further driving incursion brought an off-side penalty in favour of the home team 35 metres out.  A kick to the corner from a penalty brought a line-out 5 metres out from which they drive another maul which are always difficult to defend legitimately and after several phases Monmouth succumbed 20 minutes in to a 7 point score following an excellent goal from far out.

Tabb fielded the kick off who followed his kick upfield. Centre Howells supported well and when stopped it was prop Green who showed a rare turn of speed complete with a dummy to almost go over clinched ultimately by further support from back row man Brown. It took only five minutes for Nelson to recover the lead and their mojo with another maul winning converted score. 

Not to be outdone the visitors broke out by the lively centre Jeffs carried on by full back Bates who always makes ground with ball in hand this time grubber kicked causing the opposing full back to be taken over his own line. With half-time imminent from a scrum near the line Howells was fed a pass which allowed him to score the converted try which took Monmouth back into a 17-14 half time lead.

Both sides continued to go hard at it with the home pack cleverly using their scrum domination to good advantage emphasised by their scrum half being allowed to put the ball in almost with impunity to the feet of the back row. Energy sapping mauls became more prolonged leaving visiting supporters to wonder when it should be appropriate to call ”Use it!”

Largely Monmouth defended well although the home No 8 seemed to be able to make good ground through flailing arms, at one stage over 40 metres. Bates though did similarly though with more guile matching that and more taking play deep into the opposing half.

A scramble deep in the right corner saw the ball go loose with Tabb crowning a good game by scoring an unconverted try before leaving the field injured.

Scrum penalties were still a problem and when Nelson gambled on a relatively easy kick at goal in readiness for a hoped for clinching try to win the game, it was missed leaving Monmouth to breath again and dig in deep. And that they did securing another crucial three points from a penalty for holding on after a tackle.

With Nelson now vigorously trying to overturn the lead which their visitors still held and taking advantage of a side now weakened by a yellow card awarded for a high tackle, they created a succession of rucks moving play first right then left with Monmouth defending desperately but they succeeded in drawing nearer with a converted try with just two minutes of normal time left to play and a 4 point gap still to bridge .

Fingernail gnawing worsened amongst the crowd with the referee seeming to play an excessive amount of injury time. The pressure became unbearably tense as Nelson won a touch in the left hand corner but before it could be taken followed by an inevitable driving maul to which Monmouth had fallen victim on several occasions earlier, 2nd Row Woskett was called back onto the field. The maul as expected was formed only to face a dogged defence bringing the final whistle without further score much to the delight of the relatively small band of visiting supporters and to the despair of the home crowd, making the journey home a pleasant one for your correspondent and others.

As Dowlais are still in the WRU Cup competition there is no game for the first XV this coming weekend.  Next game is at the Monmouth Sports Ground on Saturday 9th December v. Senghenydd KO 14:30