Fixture

Monmouth RFC 1st XV v Brynmawr RFC

WRU Div 1 East

Saturday 20 Jan 2024

Monmouth 18 Brynmawr 25

So near.

With visitors to the Sportsground, Brynmawr, having beaten Monmouth 75-14 earlier in the season, hopes of reversing the result were not high amongst the spectators at the start last Saturday.

But they were soon to be made to think again when after a mere five minutes a move left along the line and a few winning rucks, centre Jeffs broke tackles for the opening score. Or could it be a false dawn with Brynmawr merely starting the slower?

The wind was going to be an influential factor as the precursor to Storm Isha was already blowing strongly corner to corner and from the start kicks upfield were prone to ballooning in quite an uncontrolled way although an attacking asset for those who new how to use it in the downhill direction. 

And so I proved when the first attempted conversion by Monmouth failed badly and Brynmawr were soon to gain a 70 metre touch by riding on the wind.

Once in the home 22 their pressure was intense and whilst the hosts did well at defending the repeated rucks and mauls near their line not always legally, inevitably one of the penalties quickly taken saw the visitors go into a 5-7 lead through a driving maul that this time was unstoppable.

The defence during the ten minute period since the opening score had been encouraging and brought a good break and from a scrum halfway a penalty kick found touch in the right corner from which after a few winning rucks stalwart 2nd row Hobbs used his size and power to drive over for a try converted comfortably by full back Tabb.

The visitors responded but had a try disallowed possibly for obstruction although the referee’s signalling may have meant one of several possibilities.

Scrum half Scrivens was adept at making good ground as well as stoutly defending and with the aid of Hobbs mauling, Monmouth secured a penalty which was kicked to touch deep on the right followed by a strong carry by prop Green. When stopped Monmouth won a penalty for going in on the side converted by Tabb to stretch the lead at half-time to 15-7 against the elements and slope.

Fired up by their ‘talking to’ in the break Brynmawr came out firing on all cylinders and despite being frustrated by dogged defence, a penalty for not rolling away after the tackle narrowed the score to 15-10.

Brynmawr were now a stronger side following substitutions with even burlier forwards but despite another good Hobbs carry out of defence a penalty for holding on gave the visitors a further three points responded to quickly by a penalty of Monmouth’s own from some 40 metres distance. 

Tempers became frayed at this juncture but Tabb this time was to pull wide a further kick at goal from some 35 metres out.

The game was turning somewhat and despite good harrying by wing Thomas to force a line-out it was lost and a sharp move on the blind-side saw Brynmawr’s speedy left wing fed for a run 
-away 60 metre try eluding a last ditch attempt at an ankle tap by fly half White. 
 
18-18 now with some ten minutes left to play and with a scrum seeing Monmouth sliding back did not bode well. A decision soon after to substitute both tiring props might have been a game saver at this point but a yellow card offence by one of them almost immediately for ‘too many penalties’ despite having just arrived was to prove disastrous.

Leaving 14 men to hold out against the continuing pressure from the visitors was going to be difficult at best 

Brynmawr’s strength at the set piece prevailed and following another strong drive they were over the line for a converted try leaving Monmouth clutching a losing bonus point only from a game they could have won and that against the joint ‘table-toppers’!

Next week they are away at Risca, so they must set to and try again for the win that is currently just eluding them.