MONMOUTH started well when Cwmbran visited last Saturday (3rd January), showing an early dominance in the scrums.

Using the slope and greasy conditions to their advantage Monmouth were able to pin the visitors in their half with probing kicks and winning rucks. Line-out throwing was the only weakness apparent at this stage allowing Cwmbran opportunities to relive pressure upon them.

This was not so in the scrums where tight head Hunter gave his opponent a very uncomfortable day out and gaining some penalty chances, albeit failed ones for the most part although one was extremely close by centre Roberts from half-way.

The first score came from the first of two charge downs by fly-half Jordan as Monmouth displayed impressive line speed to put their opponents under great defensive pressure, balanced out by a difficult penalty kick from touch by both sides.

Upon reflection for all their Monmouth's first half territorial advantage Cwmbran did well to have their line breached only once.

With only a five point lead at the break, Monmouth seemed destined to have an uphill struggle to keep in the lead. Perhaps rallied by the silent tribute to former school-master and club member John Phillips, who had passed away over the holiday period after a long illness, Monmouth almost held on right to the end.

With the slope against them and the way in which the Cwmbran pack leader had instilled a greater measure of vigour in his forwards as half time had approached, Monmouth suffered an early setback when flanker Gleed was yellow-carded for a tip-tackle, despite it being controlled. It was extra costly in that Cwmbran narrowed the gap to 8-6 with the advantage of an extra pair of hands for 10 minutes.

Monmouth however kept Cwmbran under pressure and Jordan once again charged down a clearing kick for his second try which again failed conversion as the kick was forced too hard and went awry.

Despite being kept deep in their own half by adroit kicks, Monmouth advanced still further when left wing Skipp ran 70 yards, evading the grasp of opponents as he advanced along the touch-line. It was more than good enough though because scrum half White, as ever up in support, was pulled back while about to score. The resultant penalty try evened the playing numbers and stretched the home team's lead to 20-6, but Cwmbran are not third in the league for nothing.

The ball was hoofed deep into Monmouth's territory and from there Monmouth struggled to defend the maul, Cwmbran quickly making it 20-11.

Following a failed dropped kick attempt, Monmouth responded with a long range penalty near miss but Cwmbran came powering back and despite a last ditch tackle over the line, they were able to creep nearer at 20-18 with a quarter of the game still to go.

Howell made good ground from a set-piece move, finding Skipp to make strong yards on his left. White was again on hand to take the inside pass and put Monmouth into a 27-18 lead, though with Cwmbran seeming to be gaining the ascendancy. Repeated tackling was inevitably bringing on fatigue and Cwmbran burst through again to narrow the scores to 27-25.

Monmouth tried a long distance penalty for the tackler not releasing, which had the distance but was sliced right, and then in midfield a Monmouth player was found offside and Cwmbran crept into the lead 27-28.

With ten further minutes to play Monmouth sterlingly defended their own line and, through the boot and elusive running of Skipp, were even able to put Cwmbran on the back foot forcing a line-out of their own.

Keeping up the pressure, Howell dropped a goal to sneak into a 30-28 lead as the game went into added time and predictably Cwmbran forced their way down-field again, aided by a dropped catch.

Hearts were in mouths as the minutes ticked away, but an attempt to protect the smallest player on the field from the unwanted attentions of a Cwmbran forward as frustration grew, led to a needless punch thrown, a red card for the same player, and a penalty which Cwmbran gladly accepted to clinch a compelling and incident filled match 30-31.