The imminent rugby season effectively kicked off last Saturday for Monmouth RFC with a close but deserved 29-22 trial game win over visitors Hereford RUFC.

The Experimental Law Variations kept players and spectators guessing at times and the changes in personnel as the trial progressed showed up varying strengths and weaknesses.

But there were mainly pluses to celebrate: staying power generally, versatility amongst the young and old of the pack, last ditch defending, high skills levels and much youthful flair and enthusiasm all contributed to making a success of this first outing.

For the record, left wing Tom Baker saved a certain try in the first session even though Hereford scored two others, but right wing Dave Brace rounded the defence after an excellent 'popped' pass from John Powell in the second to edge back to 5-10.

In no time in the third session, wingman Jack Butler showed what he had learnt in New Zealand to 'skin' the Hereford defence and score behind the posts for fly half Greg Wilding to secure the conversion to take Monmouth into a 12-10 lead, only for Butler to fall full almost immediately of the new five metre offside line requirement at a scrum causing Hereford to take advantage of a resultant defensive tangle to regain the lead 12-17.

But in the remaining seven minutes of the session, first scrum-half Gareth Morgan scored with a trademark lghtning burst to the line, and then his brother and utility forward Dave made yards of ground to connect with his supporting captain Seymour to move back into a 22-17 lead.

The last session was a hum-dinger with Hereford straining every sinew to recover the lead and despite heroic covering back by Baker, his opposing wing was adjudged to have scored an 80 yard try despite Tom's tackle on the try-line.

22-22 and only minutes to play saw Monmouth pile on the pressure. Baker once again evaded several tackles and from the recycled ball Jack Butler was fed a scoring pass which he executed in style.

With play like this, the season promises much and Monmouth are already planning to beat Trebanos in their away draw on 27 September and Drybrook in their next home trial on Saturday.

The Autumn, too, promises class games at the Millennium Stadium as Wales take on the World Cup 'Champs', South Africa, as well as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Unusually the tickets have already arrived with the Glendower St. Club and orders are about to be fulfilled on a 'first come- first served' basis for Club members, old and new, so don't be slow and regret it, or worse still, pay silly money via ebay ot touts for yours.