Surprisingly, the game was on at Rhiwbina despite last Saturday's freezing weather, and that was perhaps the root cause of the fairly error-ridden happenings on the day.

In a very eventful game, there were eight tries in all to enliven the goodly crowd, but sadly six were at Monmouth's expense.

Although there was a well worked try by Tony Richards, well supported by Stacey Edwards, who deservedly was man of the match, and some well taken kicks at goal, these merely kept Monmouth in touch for all but the last 15 minutes.

But then their luck ran out and Rhiwbina crept just too far ahead at 36-21 for any realistic hope of a Monmouth recovery.

Within twelve minutes of the start, thanks to two distinct errors by Monmouth, Rhiwbina were two tries ahead, eased only by a penalty for handling in the ruck.

Hopes were quickly raised in response by Richards' long burst down field, shrugging off would be tacklers and backed up on his right at just the right time by Edwards, who crashed over despite the attentions of two tacklers.

If the conversion had not sailed over the very top of the exceedingly short goal-posts the difference at this stage would have been a simple two points but the missed conversion was soon compounded by another converted try by the home team, following some weak tackling.

Two more penalties to Monmouth for misdemeanours narrowed the gap but if another strong burst by second-row Richards deep into Rhiwbina territory had not been spilled, a further try by Monmouth was on the cards, rather than a major reversal following a lengthy break-out saved only by foot in touch five yards out.

The consequential line-out turned into a maul and Rhiwbina ensured a 24-14 lead at the break by trundling over the short distance necessary.

For twenty minutes Monmouth put their opponents under some considerable pressure but it was Rhiwbina who were to score first again.

Monmouth tried even harder as a result and following a series of scrums near the Rhiwbina line, frustrated by foul after foul, the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try, which Brace comfortably converted to narrow the gap to six points.

Monmouth then conceded a soft try to the opposing scrum-half, who at least satisfied the referee that he could move several yards from being onside in a milli-second to intercept the Monmouth scrum-half's pass and score under the posts.

There was no point in arguing but the game was done when, with five minutes remaining, Monmouth opted to take a kick at goal which was missed whilst still 13 points adrift. The gap was now too large to bridge and Monmouth were left wondering why they did not win the game.

It is away in Cardiff again next week against St Joseph's when hopefully some of the squad will have recovered from their various injuries.

A win is now becoming a necessity as the slide continues.