A SUCCESSFUL appeal against disqualification for allegedly fielding an ineligible player brought a late change of opponent for Monmouth at the Sports Ground with league leading Ynysddu, to whom they had narrowly lost earlier in the season.

Both sides set about each other eagerly and it was Monmouth who had the first opportunity to score. The penalty kick missed though and, soon after, full back Connors was all but away when counter-attacking from inside his own half, but for a desperate yet effective ankle tap stopping him.

Monmouth maintained their ascendancy at this stage kicking their way up-field to relieve pressure from the opposing larger forwards.

From one such long distance punt, the visiting full-back was caught in a pincer tackle and, when Monmouth turned over the ball, prop Tom Green put fly-half White away for a certain score under the sticks, apart from the fact the overhead pass had been forward.

Ynysddu won the scrum and put in a fine relieving kick of their own to touch on half-way but were soon under pressure when they tip-tackled a Monmouth forward dangerously and were reduced by one man for 10 minutes.

Their pack was nothing if not lively and this drawback spurred them on rather than deterred them, bombarding the Monmouth line with driving mauls.

Failing at first to cross the line due to a touch of indecision, but having now worn down the home pack, when they drove again they were to score near the posts which also made the conversion easy.

Monmouth responded quickly when flanker Griffiths made a 40 metre burst out of defence. Flanker McCord, back from college and looking as lively as ever, completed the action by being up on his shoulder to charge on for a further elusive 30 metre run in. Roberts' conversion evened the scores at 7-7 on the half-hour.

Ynysddu responded through their forwards but when they made the line they were called back for a penalty instead of the conversion they thought they had earned.

This time their forwards succeeded and they edged the score to 7-12 at half-time.

When the game recommenced there was little of the low winter sun left to aid the Monmouth attack but Roberts succeeded with a penalty in the opening minutes.

Alarm bells rang as Ynysddu's scrum-half found a gap for an arcing run towards the line but the gap had been illegally obtained by pulling back Monmouth's flanker, with a relieving penalty awarded instead.

Both teams had benefited from the rest and Monmouth responded through a move involving their half-backs. Wing Farr made good ground on the right before a heavy double-tackle halted a promising move.

Ynysddu, spurred on by a highly vocal band of supporters, showed that, of two lively packs, theirs was the more cohesive and street-wise. This superiority was tempered though with a yellow card for taking a man off the ball.

Some speedy but infrequent incursions by Monmouth backs throughout made one wonder if that was not a more promising way of taking the game to Ynysddu, but they were the more impressive up front, despite much commitment and endeavour by the Monmouth pack.

It was to stay 10-12 with a score that fairly reflected the game.