The smallest crowd of the season so far was entertained to a pulsating eight-try game against visitors Oakdale on Saturday (1st November).

The game was so close that the lead changed hands eight times during the 80 minutes.

Despite a successful penalty setback from half way inside the second minute, Monmouth sparkled in the early stages with some impressive three-quarter moves facilitated by intelligent passing from scrum half White with fly half Vaughan proving an effective link.

Monmouth's first score came from a combination of a delayed pass from White and an angled run to the posts which Vaughan converted.

Centre Howells, who had a very lively first half, was next on the score-board with an impressive try despite numerous passes along the line losing attacking impetus.

Oakdale made good ground in response aided by numerous missed tackles, but were halted with a series of rucks close to the line.

Eventually they broke through making it 12-8 with less than 15 minutes gone.

Monmouth attacked Oakdale at pace and seemed to benefit from a deliberate knock-on from the visitors, resulting in a yellow card.

They didn't make the most of the extra man when a high and long kick failed to make touch and was picked up by an Oakdale back.

The away side's speedster rode two attempted tackles to score in the corner and regain the lead at 12-13.

Continuing the end-to-end theme, Monmouth let rip with Vaughan putting Howells away again and wing Connors outflanking tacklers to score under the posts.

The easy conversion saw the lead change hands again to 19-13.

Poor tackling from the home team was making for an exciting game and Oakdale scored another try, again in the corner. The excellent kick took the score to 19-20.

Monmouth's other continued weakness was a failue to secure their line-out, largely due to inaccurate throwing in but their ability to move the ball around the field at speed compensated.

Prop Hunter was next to figure strongly, taking the ball in midfield and setting up a solid ruck after a rumble forward for what became another well worked try, this time through wing Layne.

Vaughan failed to add the extra points and Oakdale immediately responded, benefitting initially from further missed tackles and saved only by the determination and pace of White who redeemed himself by tackling back and saving an almost inevitable score.

Fortune was on the side of the home team now as a relatively easy penalty kick failed allowing Monmouth to enter the break 24-20 in front.

With a stern talking to by the respective coaches to try to cut out the mistakes, Monmouth turned around to play into the breeze and the lowering sunshine, missing the very first kick off as a result.

Both sides cancelled out the others efforts until Connors set off on a beautifully balanced run deep into Oakdale territory.

An excellent scything tackle ended both his run and his game as he limped off the field but his potential was clear to see beforehand.

Frustration now started to show as play became a little niggley.

Vaughan found his dead ball kicking boots again adding two penalties to his total, the second of which was superb, from halfway and into the wind.

In the lead 30-20 but with an eventual 27 minutes to play Monmouth needed to dig in deep and initial signs were good as they repelled ruck after ruck as Oakdale pounded their line.

From a turn over and a 50m clearing kick it was clear the tempo was generally slowing and the referee's patience was impressive as many of his decisions were repeatedly questioned by the visiting captain.

Local enthusiasm seemed to be waning as Oakdale drove mauls and many home forwards congregated in midfield but Monmouth were spared when an attacking move was passed directly into touch.

Monmouth cleared their lines from a penalty kick but when it was run back at them the Oakdale player just managed to ground the ball over the line for a try. A simple penalty kick was missed keeping Monmouth ahead but then a similar one of their own failed too.

Pressures then increased as captain and No. 8 Phillips received a yellow card for a knock on adjudged to be deliberate. The penalty was reversed for Oakdale dissent but they were still one man down which was to prove too much for them after wave upon wave of charges at the Monmouth line.

The final five minutes saw their line eventually breached and the easy conversion gave Oakdale the result 30-32 in the last minute of the game.

Bonus points all round but Monmouth will be kicking themselves for letting their lead slip.

Next week brings an opportunity to build on their attacking play when, with the advent of the Autumn Internationals, they have an away friendly against high flying Bargoed of the SWALEC Championship – kick off at 6.30pm Friday 7th November.