There's nothing like a local derby to stir the blood and stretch the limbs.

Monmouth Druids hosted Abergavenny in a league fixture on Chippenham Mead.

The game proved to be a thriller with both sides gaining and losing the initiative and with it the score line continuously changing.

The first 20 minutes strongly favoured the Druids. Their forwards won good ball at the scrum and lineout.

Driving mauls drove the visitors back and Abergavenny were forced onto the back foot.

The Druids scored first when a strong drive forced Abergavenny to stand up in the scrum. Centre Dave Brace took steady aim and put the ball between the posts to give them a three-nil lead.

This was followed by a try which showed quick thinking by Brace. Running with the ball in the visitors 22 metre area, he was faced by a defender.

He coolly chipped the ball over his head and won the race for the touch down for an unconverted try and a eight-nil scoreline.

The game entered a new phase where Abergavenny took control of events.

This showed itself in the form of two tries, one of which was converted.

This was as a result of pressure in the Druids' 22-metre area.

Good crisp passing saw the visitors cross the try line for both efforts. This was a prelude to 10 minutes of extreme pressure on the Druids line.

The Monmouth defence, to their credit, stood firm but the half-time whistle must have been a relief for the Druids.

The second half saw Abergavenny continue to build pressure but again the Druids held their line intact.

Then an important score which started on the halfway line. From a set piece, a scrum, Druids centre Adam Roberts made a half break and fed wing Tom Baker.

He stretched his legs and beat two or three defenders and ran 40 metres over the muddy surface to touch down behind the Abergavenny posts.

This was converted by Brace to give the Druids the lead of 15-12.

Abergavenny again strove to regain the lead and looked dangerous but the Druids defence resisted their efforts.

The play was now end-to-end as both sides wanted the next score as it was important.

It was the Druids who took the opportunity to score when a Abergavenny forward entered a ruck from the side. The penalty award to the Druids was duly converted by Dave Brace and with it Monmouth took the lead 18-12.

The scoring was not yet completed and it was the Druids who put the game safe.

A long kick out of defence was not dealt with by two Abergavenny defenders and the ball dribbled over the visitors try line.

Druids right wing Mike Whistance followed up and dived on the ball to score a fine opportunist try which was unconverted.

So a 23-12 victory hard earned, but a welcome result for the Druids.

Dave Brace was probably man-of-the-match because of the 13 points he scored, but the forwards' resilience deserves mention, especially Nick Phillips and Matt Hurst. In fact the entire eight were heroes.