On a lovely autumnal afternoon last Saturday (11th September), a much changed Monmouth side from the week before visited Brynithel and came through a stern test as six points to 16 winners, despite being reduced to 13 men in the nerve-racking final stages.
For the second week in succession, Monmouth seemed to get the wrong side of the referee and his interpretation of the new law surrounding release of the tackler and ensuing rucks.
Right or wrong, they cannot afford to give away as much advantage to opponents as this.
And that was not the only thing against them as the lightly inflated match balls did nothing for fly-half Rhys Rickett's usual accuracy with the boot, although the 11 points he contributed was still invaluable.
The first half was one where, while trying to get to grips with the referee's requirements as the game swung to and fro, Brynithel took their chances with the boot leading first three-nil and then by the 20th minute, six-nil as a result of another Monmouth transgression.
But the visitors rallied well with 10 minutes of the half remaining. First a break deep into the left of Brynithel territory with good interpassing would have brought a try but for a forced knock-on, but the passage of play still helped boost confidence.