The scene-setting tackle for the game by stand-in hooker Andrew Hunter on the Talywain fly-half was a purler, setting an example for his forward colleagues and for a while Monmouth had their visitors to the Sports Ground worried.
Two minutes later local fly-half Dave Croudace had three points on the board in response to an off-side offence at a line out but Talywain gathered themselves and it was clear their pack, whilst weaker scrummagers, would be lively and some of their three-quarters and especially their full-back quite electric.