TABLE-leading Caerleon must have wondered what had changed on their visit last Saturday (31st January), given the way Monmouth led throughout the first 65 minutes of the return clash, having won 67-17 in September.

A large and appreciative crowd were drawn in by beautifully sunny weather, tempered somewhat by a very strong cold crossfield wind.

Both sides exchanged a salvo of high kicks early on but it was Monmouth who initially had their visitors contained within their 22m area.

A long kick out of defence was taken on the burst by full back Tabb. He failed to see opportunities to his left but, despite running back into traffic, created a position from which Andrew Davies resumed the play with vigour. Caerleon defended well though, frustrating the recycling of the ball just short of a score.

The home pack were dominating the scrums at this stage and at rucks Caerleon were already having to resort to spoiling tactics. Handling the ball while off their feet cost them a penalty which centre Roberts confidently took to open the scoring 20 minutes into the game.

Caerleon were stirred by this and, following a deep relieving kick, put together a threatening attack aided by three missed tackles. They made good ground into Monmouth's half where their kicker bravely attempted a penalty of some 45 metres from far out on the right which went close.

Monmouth maintained the pressure upon themselves by kicking direct to touch from the re-start. Mis-handling by Caerleon allowed the ball to be hacked through though, but when it came back into hands with the goal line begging on the right, an ill-judged attempt to beat the tackle and go it alone brought nothing.

Continued pressure in the set piece by Monmouth's back row and scrum-half White brought another penalty from the boot of Tabb, for once again not rolling away from the tackle.

The lead was reasonably commanding at 6-0 at half-time, but with hindsight there had been opportunities missed which later would be regretted.

Caerleon, realising they needed to raise their game, continued to pressurise down field and it became Monmouth's turn to concede a penalty at the breakdown in the middle of the field for a not too difficult kick.

Just two minutes later, with Caerleon having worked their way through a ragged defence into the Monmouth right hand corner, they quickly recycled the ball which flew along their line to their right.

With an overlap beckoning, the tall figure of Copley intercepted a high pass and was then accused of "lazy running" in an offside position from which Caerleon drew even and Monmouth gained a yellow card.

Monmouth fought well and were harshly penalised again when White was half tackled and punished for not releasing the ball.

The player advantage began to tell though as Caerleon were now delighted to be driving back the Monmouth seven.

Monmouth were giving their all but a sin-binning stretched them to their limit. Despite the outstanding vigour of the whole back row eventually the visiting backs, finding it easier now as their opponents became more ragged in defence, ran the ball first left and then right to produce the overlap needed to overtake Monmouth with what was the only try of the match.

If Monmouth had been able to hold the score of 6-11, they would have secured a losing bonus point, but another relatively easy penalty brought the final score to 6-14 leaving the home team and their supporters disappointed but relatively proud of their performance which improves weekly. Monmouth will need to improve again for the game away next week against another league leading team – Caldicot.