Monmouth RFC have lost to no-one yet in the Swalec League Division 5 East and are equal on 40 points at its top with Hafodyrynys and with a game in hand over them.

The four tries scored against Llanhilleth last Saturday (19th November) earned them an all-important bonus point but things were tight towards the end as they lost someone to each of two successive yellow cards.

They managed to hold out, however, and it was only the upright that prevented Llanhilleth from gaining a losing bonus point of their own as they also stuck to their task quite gamely.

Monmouth commenced in a rush but failed to capitalise from a few powerful thrusts towards the Llanhilleth line. As a result the home team steadied their game and were first to score after nine minutes with a penalty due to a visiting back straying off-side while defending.

The referee, Jeff Lake, whose last game before his retirement this was, was correctly strict with failures to release in the tackle but an errant kick at goal spared the visitors from slipping further behind.

Unusually for Monmouth they were met up front arguably by larger and more rugged opponents but Monmouth were well led by the example of captain Matt Ricketts with his tackles of ball carriers around the rucks.

For the full report see Beacon 23/11/11