Monmouth 22 –

CHEPSTOW arrived in Monmouth with few supporters but seemed confident that their strong, robust pack would help them repeat the early season home win.

With Monmouth dropping the ball from the kick-off, it looked as if the game might turn out as described.

Playing up the field in sunny but very blustery conditions, the Monmouth back row were undeterred, and were prominent with deep forays into their opponent's half for much of the first quarter, keeping the visitors on the back foot.

As well as causing panic in Chepstow's defence, the away side also conceded two penalties, ably kicked by full back Rhys Ricketts.

Gradually, play evened out and Chepstow cleverly used the elements to advance down the right touch-line.

When they in turn gained a penalty chance which went begging, Chepstow kept up the pressure, spending a full five minutes camped in the right corner of Monmouth territory, but the home team's defence was resolute.

Eventually the visitors' momentum grew and in the 28th minute, having first stretched Monmouth on the left side, a switch back to the extreme right through many pairs of hands saw their winger round the defence for the first try of the game.

Fortunately their line kicking was superior to their place-kicking which was to cost them dearly. The conversion attempt failed as Monmouth all but charged it down.

Wing Mobbs-Morgan may still be learning the senior game but his pace in charging or following kicks, plus his fearlessness in the tackle, are two fine strengths.

Monmouth bounced back straight-away gaining another three points for some Chepstow indiscipline and a 9-5 lead going into half-time.

Chepstow set off strongest in the second half and, when a home defender used his shoulder in a tackle, the resultant penalty eventually led to a scrum near to the line. After a missed tackle, they scored near enough to the posts for Monmouth to be overtaken 9-12.

The referee had eyes everywhere and after a scuffle behind the posts, the game re-started with a penalty kick leading to a line-out and then a scrum, after which, for failing to release a tackler and thus slowing down the attack, the Chepstow open side flanker was awarded a yellow card. Ricketts gratefully took the kick to level the score 12-12.

Play moved from end to end with one right flank attack by Monmouth foundering because the ball carrier tried to make his mark by driving through a tackle, rather than seeking support, but the tackle was good and the chance was lost.

Play gravitated to near the Monmouth line where, while defending vigorously, a forward was yellow carded for coming into a ruck from the side.

There was relief for Monmouth when Chepstow went over the line but the ball was adjudged held up. The respite did not last long though as a visiting centre cut through to score near the posts.

Mobbs-Morgan, in the face of the kicker again, helped the conversion fail, but Monmouth, now five points behind, drove deeply down-field.

They bombarded the line and four minutes of battering away by the forwards brought penalties galore.

The ball was held up again and one of Monmouth's heaviest players was driven back by a very determined Chepstow defence. At last the pack allowed the ball to be moved into the backs from where centre Adam Roberts charged through the defence. Ricketts added the points to regain a 19-17 lead.

Chepstow responded immediately and only a last ditch tackle by the full back saved a try, but a foul tackle in the lead up changed the lead again to 19-20 from another penalty.

Somehow the referee found 10 minutes of extra time, which was fiercely contested, and then Monmouth scored in the left hand corner only for the visiting touch-judge to call play back for a marginal foot in touch.

Chepstow won the line-out and kicked for touch. In what was now the very last minute Monmouth threw badly into the line but when the visiting hooker charged off-side, Ricketts, dependable as always, slotted a 35 metre penalty from far out with the last kick of the game to snatch the win 22-20.