Despite losing 28-10 in their final trial game at Hereford on Saturday, Monmouth will have gained much encouragement from their trip over the border to take on a more practised side. In the opening minutes Monmouth dented the home team's initial confidence with two excellent scrummages – an area in which they were to remain comfortable throughout. There were also lessons to be learned though, not least of all the need to command their own line-outs. The general view among the spectators was that the lifting needed improvement by more practice rather than adjustment to personnel. For it was from a line-out that Hereford engineered the first of their four tries in the game. The driving maul they set up was repelled to some extent, but the back half of the maul was driven into touch while the ball carrying vanguard trundled on the extra few yards for the score. Despite the angle and distance, the conversion was confidently placed for a 7-0 lead in the eighth minute. The next item of note was the gathering of a long attacking kick by scrum-half Dan White who was in sparkling form, deep in his own half and responding with one that was even better. The position it gained was not maintained though and despite the mobile eagerness of flanker Callum Gleed, too often Monmouth were unable to capitalise on territory they had gained as Hereford were allowed to run the ball back at the visitors. Monmouth's defence was by and large good but as half-time beckoned Hereford finally broke through for a further seven points. Their tails were now up and just before the break it took clever and resolute defence by Monmouth to prevent an all-but-inevitable further score. The second half initially started well for the visitors when they took a scrum against the head and drove Hereford back. The three-quarters made good ground but the wing eventually ran out of ideas and the attack was snuffed out. Hereford quickly counter-attacked catching the Monmouth defence disorganised following their earlier efforts and carving a clear gap for a score under the posts. The Monmouth players seemed to be suffering the wrong end of the referee's stick, losing ground at times for displaying their dissent but their resolve strengthened rather than diminished. A quarter of an hour into the half brought a solo effort from Gleed which took him on a weaving 40m run through the mid-field for an unconverted try. This raised spirits some more and with the forwards dogging away, the ball found its way to Rob Farr who made a big advance down the right wing when a timely chip over a defender might have prevented him from being comprehensively nailed on this occasion. Gareth Morgan, now at scrum-half and alert as ever, gathered an overthrown line-out ball and set first centre Dewi Lane and then Dan White on their way to make a classy 40 metres downfield. With Monmouth's scrum still dominating, it hurt to see the match official allowing staggering feeding of a Hereford scrum which gave them the ball they needed to attack Monmouth again. Their centre cut back inside for another score easily converted and a 28-5 lead. Not quite outdone, Monmouth's Morgan pounced on another loose ball and shot away to remain untouched over some 50 metres for the final score of the game. With several cameo roles and good scrummmaging on display, the real test will be in the first league fixture next Saturday away at Blackwood All Stars, kick off 2.30pm.