HAVING been unbeaten throughout September but losing their last two matches Monmouth School 1st XV really needed a win to get them back on track.
After 25 minutes of the game against Old Swinford Hospital School, however, it did not look promising. Despite having the bulk of both territory and possession the School found themselves 14-0 down.
Once again they failed to turn possession into points and lacked the patience required to break down a stubborn and committed Old Swinford defence. To their credit though they continued to run the ball and were rewarded for their enterprise when centre Mark Higgins touched down wide out on the left. Will Edwards added an excellent conversion.
Monmouth continued to spin the ball stretching the Old Swinford defence and tiring their much heavier pack. Good recycling of the ball and a superb floated pass from Edwards resulted in left wing Ieuan Wetherall crossing for a fine try.
The visiting pack were still posing the Monmouth eight plenty of problems and a lineout, five metres out, resulted in the inevitable catch and drive which proved impossible to stop and so the scores became tied at 19-19.
Monmouth looked to be in real trouble as the visitors gained another lineout five metres from the line. Remarkably Monmouth managed to steal possession and three excellent passes and. some 95 yards later, Joe Curtis crossed for what has now become the Schools customary length of the field to score. Edwards added the extra points and Monniouth led, 26-19, for the first time in the match.
Again the visiting pack took command and only excellent defence from right wing John Shankland and captain., Mike Grifffiths held them at bay in a frantic last few minutes.
A pleasing win for the School against a large OId Swinford side who were previously unbeaten.
Next comes the annual challenge of the Crawshay Welsh XV, a side made up of promising Welsh Schoolboy players, many of whom are already junior internationals. That match is on Thursday. Kick off 2.30pm.