Back to fine form Monmouth played well last Saturday to beat 3rd Division side Seven Sisters RFC from the Swansea Valley 34-20.

In a hum-dinger of a game in gusty but otherwise good conditions, Monmouth led throughout, but the visitors were never disgraced and threatened right to the end, especially when Monmouth were reduced by injury to 14 men for the last 12 minutes.

Again Monmouth's pack was too strong for the opposition and their forwards picked and drove well in patches too. But the agility of the Seven Sisters flanker and captain taught the home team a thing or two about the line-out which he dominated.

Both sides spent the first quarter of an hour probing each other's defences with play see-sawing from end to end but with Monmouth perhaps having the advantage, first kicking the ball deep with the wind but just dead, and then flanker Mike Griffiths being dragged down just short of the line. But almost immediately it was the Monmouth line that was at risk with full back Greg Wilding just being able to clear to touch.

Playing down the slope does not always suit Monmouth but when Griffiths ripped the ball in a defensive maul, young Wilding regained territory and soon from a succession of rucks captain and No 8 Adam Seymour crossed for Dave Brace who is now kicking well from a tee, converted for the opening seven points 24 minutes into the game.

The next spell took Monmouth 17-0 into the lead with 10 points from Brace. First a penalty and then a well rounded off move for a try as well as its conversion. Monmouth were now on fire and Griffiths shot a full 30 yards down field side-stepping defenders at will but sadly possession was lost as he was grounded by the back tracking defence.

With eight minutes overtime both sides were both looking forward to the break as the game had lost some of its lustre prior to the break leaving some shearing up to be done by Coach Ian Seymour.

At first it seemed that the entreaties contest more and concede less penalties were being ignored as Seven Sisters used the wind positively, clocking up two penalties in a matter of minutes.

But then scrum half Gareth Morgan, playing his last game for the Club as he emigrates soon to Florida after a successful career with the Town team, showed what will be missed when he made a solo break scorching past four opponents to score near the left corner flag. Brace who definitely had his kicking boots on kicked a fine conversion despite the wind to stretch the lead to 24-6.

The visitors came back with fire and pace and Monmouth did well to resist their resurgence and then retaliated with inroads of their own and centre Layne crossing the line but failing to ground the ball.

The referee, who had a fine game, started to use his yellow cards and Monmouth advanced a further three points with a Brace penalty, but the visitors were not beaten yet and helped by lack of concentration and some missed tackles they narrowed the gap to two scores with 9 minutes of normal time to play.

But Monmouth found some reserves of energy and Morgan and Griffiths combined well to give Brace yet another conversion but when Adam Seymour left the field injured and with all substitutes used, despite the sending off of one of their players, Seven Sisters fought back again and found Monmouth standing still as one of them burst through untouched under the posts for a final score of 34-20.

Back to the league next week with an away game at Brynithel as well as a trip out to support their quiz (cwis) team on S4C's filmed competition – Meddiant. Supporters are very welcome and the coach leaves the Club on Sunday November 9. Book your free seat now at the Club or via 712309!