A good crowd were entertained to a seven-try feast last Saturday (7th April) in a 52-12 win over visitors Llanhilleth, including two tries for centre Dewi Lane and 17 points from in-form kicker Rhys Ricketts.

After a vigorous start, Monmouth pressed deep onto the Llanhilleth 22-metre area, No 8 Mike Griffiths drove into the defence around the ruck, leaving scrum half Gareth Morgan to feint right and expose a gap through to the line near the posts.

Llanhilleth knuckled down in a period of give and take, with several Monmouth attacks ending in touch or with the referee's whistle.

Another sortie by the Monmouth backs looked like succeeding but was thwarted by a good tackle which fortunately lowered the height of the Monmouth attacker just in time to avoid the worst of a high tackle designed to remove the upper part of his head.

Ricketts made the offender pay with the penalty.

An increase in tempo brought a switch by Morgan from right to left, leading to probably the best try of the game scored by centre Lane, who did not need the assistance of the spare men outside him. Ricketts again obliged with the kick.

Digging in deep, the visitors began kicking long and deep for position but was able to gather one which he put back some 65 yards into touch to temporarily relieve the pressure.

To and fro the game went and near half-time Ricketts chose to kick speculatively from near half way for the final act of the half.

The game was not yet won by any means even though the home team backs were clearly superior.

The plan was now to keep things simple, disciplined and with everyone supporting one another and initially one wondered if the message had sunk in.

For the full report on this game, see this week's Beacon (11th April)