Fixture

Pontypool United RFC 16 - 40 Monmouth RFC

Saturday 28th September 

A trip to Pontypool United for the first away Division 1 East League game of the visitors’ season was the treat last Saturday, played in pleasant Autumnal weather and on a good surface despite the rain of previous days.And weren’t they keen to make up for their close loss when Abergavenny visited Monmouth some three weeks ago now due to a rearranged fixture.Monmouth were firing on all cylinders right from the start and in just 5 minutes fly half White broke a tackle and following two ruck recyclings he scored with wing Tabb adding the extras.Monmouth were flying now and captain Woskett was on hand to complete a move almost untouched which Tabb added to for a 14 point lead before the end of the first quarter.In fact the eagerness with which Monmouth were playing meant that it was 22 minutes from the start before the home team meaningfully entered their opponents half.And then the home team’s talents began to show with their left wing dazzling all before him to score from distance and at pace to ensure the conversion was achieved was an easy one, too.This raised the spirit of Pontypool United and soon Monmouth were defending their goal-line as if their very lives depended upon it. And resist they did, turning the ball over after several drives a for the line with centre Bates using his booming boot to kick Monmouth 70 metres upfield for a line-out.Pontypool’s other obvious strength was the speed with which they blitzed the Monmouth defence helped by the increasing tendency during this phase for Monmouth to miss key tackles or lose their shape. One such offside error allowed Pontypool to claw back three further points.But then Bates’ mighty boot failed him with his restart kick going direct to touch. The hosts won the ensuing scrum and in no time were awarded a high tackle penalty to narrow the gap to 13-14 and conclude a stirring first half where some errors and strong play by home individuals had levelled things up after Monmouth’s early dominance.A poor pass direct to touch augured ill for Monmouth at the start of the second half as did a direct punt from deep and Pontypool encouraged by this gained great territory with a long kick out from defence gaining a penalty following a line-out and a 16-14 lead.Individuals amongst the visiting team for whom 2nd row Hobbs carried well, White continued to link and probe to his usual standard, Dunmore was a brave pillar in defence, with Bates regularly finding gaps and yardage, the latter more so when he was debatably stopped short of the line only to make amends soon after by regaining a 16-21 lead. Right wing Jarvis was not to be out- done at this stage with Pontypool saved only by a marginal foot in touch by this greyhound-like speedster.But Monmouth were kicking deep and following up fast now, catching defenders well behind the advantage line. White next gained possession and jinked around several and with good support from flanker Mobbs Morgan and Bates brought a deserved try for Tabb.From the restart quick passing out to Jarvis saw him run 55 metres untouched to totally skin the opposite defence. Tabb who had been reliable thus far found this conversion beyond him from near touch but with 15 minutes to play would there be more?Just a few minutes later Monmouth kicked deep, catching defenders in possession who conceded a penalty and from touch in the right corner Dunmore cut through for a 16-40 final score and a bonus point with Tabb having rounded off the score with his kick at goal.Again with no league games for a fortnight due to a bye for Monmouth in the Cup they next entertain Nelson on 12 October at the Sports Ground when they will hope to continue in what was a largely impressive winning mode.

Peter Walters 

Gareth Roberts