Large crowds turned out in the Winter sunshine to watch the Boxing Day annual derbies between Usk and Monmouth rugby teams.

This time it was to see Usk teams shade both results, the scores being 6-5 in Usk's favour for the seconds in the morning and 13-15 at Monmouth in the afternoon.

But the afternoon score perhaps flattered Monmouth as it was clearly the visitors who played with the greater vigour and despite the closeness of the result by the end, Usk had to be adjudged the better side on the day. A few more minutes might have turned the tables but good though the late surge by Monmouth was, it was a case of too little too late.

Monmouth 1st XV might have expected better given the spirit they displayed whilst losing to Rumney of the 1st Division the preceding week. But the Christmas 'Pud' weighed a little too heavily or perhaps it was a case of too much spirit of the liquid kind in the intervening period?

More accurately, some better decision making and goal kicking might have brought a different result, especially when building up a good head of steam late in the second half and awarded a kickable penalty at 6-13 with five minutes to go, the choice of a short penalty instead, with hindsight, proved flawed because a subsequent converted try would have won the game.

The failure to score at this point made for great excitement as Monmouth battered away at the line for the evergreen Stacey Edwards to force his way over against considerable odds.

The excellent near touch conversion by fly-half Dave Croudace, on leave from military duties, was superb but brought only the final whistle to the absolute delight of the large Usk contingent.

The game overall went from end to end and it was a full 20 minutes before Usk ran the ball at the part of the defence dominated by forwards.

Having made a scything break the attacker had the presence of mind when ankle-tapped to pop the ball up to a supporting player who scored an unconverted try.

At half-time with 3-5 on the board with Monmouth having responded with a penalty, the game was there to be taken but it was ominous that Monmouth had been spared somewhat in the first half by Usk's errors rather than initiatives of their own.

Ten minutes of frenetic rugby later it was Usk who wheeled a scrum taking the Monmouth back row away from defending the visitors' thrust through the centre on the left going down the slope. Again they missed the kick but at 3-10 it was up to wing Dave Brace to claw back three points when an Usk player failed to roll away after a tackle.

The next incident of note was when a Monmouth defender allowed a high kick ahead to bounce straight into the arms of those following up the kick so with the score now stretched to 6-15 Monmouth had a fair hill to climb but 20 minutes in which to do it.

Momentum built up with some significant substitutions but Usk were not going to give in easily. They defended vigorously eventually testing the referee's patience one time too many resulting in a yellow card for Usk and then it was that Monmouth moved up a gear but as reflected above despite a stirring final rally it proved too little too late and Monmouth had to cede best to the visitors for the first time for a while in a Boxing Day derby, but there can be no complaints and attention must now be switched to the League again.