THE win that Monmouth Rugby Club's first team has been gradually promising over recent weeks came last Saturday at the expense of near neighbours Chepstow and was well deserved.

The winning score of 10-8 was probably a fair measure of the difference between the sides and of the difference in league position even though the visiting coach is unlikely to agree the point.

On a poor surface following the heavy recent rain and playing on the reserve pitch on Chippenham because of a fixture clash with football, there was always going to be a touch of lottery about events and so it proved at least as far as goal-kicking was concerned for lack of sure footing for the kicker.

Not that that excused one miss that could have been crucial from in front of the posts. Chepstow started the more eager and soon were displaying their youth with great enthusiasm and vigour and although Monmouth were holding their own in a more staid manner, heads could have fallen when having made an incursion down the right flank, Chepstow repeated it only nine minutes into the game leaving a flat-footed defence wondering what had happened.

The kick failed but soon the teams were equally matched moving first up the field and then back again as players whole-heartedly battled but struggled to win clean quick ball because of the mess around the breakdown area that the referee seemed to allow.

And then potential disaster as Monmouth's hooker Mark Jones was yellow carded for a trip which seemed more accidental than malicious.

Fortunately the Monmouth pack was the stronger and damage was limited as a result and scores were evened when Chepstow's captain in turn received his temporary marching orders.

To and fro went the game until Monmouth, conscious that they needed to raise their game as half-time approached. The line was almost reached by moving it along the three-quarters and on the very next approach, centre Andrew Davies straightened the line beating a defender in the process, to find 2nd Row John Powell up in support to cross the line and run nearer to the posts. Despite this the kicker again missed but the pitch surface was not at all helpful.

Even then at half-time, the second half would prove challenging as the lowering bright sun obscured the vision of those defending at Monmouth's rear as Chepstow used the advantage to kick high and long.

Again the match was evenly contested, but centre Davies several time tried to break the line with grubber kicks for his fellow three-quarters to run onto as Chepstow were forced to turn.

Eventually one worked all but perfectly as the speedy left wing Matt King chased up only to find the defender failing to ground it over the line so Matt did it for him.At 10-5 with 32 minutes to play, there was much defending to be done and to Chepstow's credit they tried their utmost.

When they were awarded a penalty 40 yards out there seemed little threat of a score but dissent at the decision gained them a further ten yards and the only points gained by the boot in the whole game and still with 25 minutes to play, but try hard as Chepstow did, Monmouth's defence stayed solid despite an absolute pounding of their line many times and especially in the closing minutes.

One might have hoped that they would have been rewarded with a defending scrum during this veritable barrage but Monmouth had to dog it out without the rub of the green and all the more well deserved was their victory as a result.

Pontllanffraith visit next weekend when the Sports Ground pitch should enable a better display of running rugby, but if it is defence that will be needed, Monmouth have proven they can do that as well as take opportunities when they arise.