WITH a large home crowd no doubt encouraged by the sunny weather and a return to live local rugby after four weeks of Autumn Internationals, the effect of the layoff was apparent with both sides playing nervously with numerous handling errors in the early stages.

There was eagerness aplenty but a rash of penalties as a result, with Rhys Ricketts first on the score-board on thirteen minutes. This was equalled just a minute later with a penalty from 25 metres by the visiting fly half.

It was obvious that the referee intended to police the breakdown rigorously but it also became clear that the respective captains were perplexed by his decisions given the number of times they had to question him.

Llanhilleth went into the lead soon after with a kick 15 metres from in front of the posts. To make matters worse for the home side, No. 8 Griffiths was penalised and despatched to the sin-bin, which appeared harsh as it looked like he was on his feet and released the ball when told to.

The visitors soon pressed home their numerical superiority aided by Monmouth missing tackles, when Llanhilleth rampaged up the right to score half way out facilitating a relatively easy kick to stretch their lead to 3-13.

With numbers restored Monmouth began building. Close on half-time, with a potential overlap of three down the right hand side, the players were called back for a penalty kick at goal. The three points were welcome but seven would have been preferred as the teams changed over at 6-13.

After half time. it took 15 minutes for Monmouth to get into a scoring position as they drove at Llanhilleth's line, but a vigorous defence frustrated progress. When within seven metres of the line an offside once again snuffed out a probable score but

from the penalty

Monmouth gained

nothing.

After a badly missed penalty soon after, the game was evened out to some extent when a visiting player was yellow-carded.

Then Monmouth began to let the ball do the work putting flanker Callum Gleed over in the left corner. The kick from a difficult angle

was only narrowly missed.

Llanhilleth now seemed to be the more determined and they were helped in this following a series of driving mauls, the last of which got through to the line, taking their lead to 11-18.

A kick deep into Llanhilleth territory was run straight back through not just one, but four missed tackles and Monmouth remained under pressure for the remainder of the game. When the referee again blew for a penalty to Llanhilleth within easily kickable range, a losing bonus point seemed about to be snatched away from Monmouth, but the kick was missed.

This coming Saturday brings a visit from Blaenavon

Forgeside in the Swalec Cup – kick off at 2.30p.m