WRU East Division One

Monmouth RFC 1st XV 26 Bedlinog 29

IN what turned out to be very much a game of two halves, Monmouth seemed to be doing well at half-time having scored four tries and gained a bonus point to Bedlinog RFC’s solitary try, reports PETE WALTERS.

But a succession of injuries for the hosts and a vigorous fightback by the visitors turned things around after the break as victory slipped away.

The game was prefaced by a very respectful minute’s silence in memory of club patron Eddie Butler, who passed away suddenly whilst on a charity fund raising trip to Peru a week last Thursday.

In a game that was punctuated by numerous penalties, Monmouth conceded the first in the opening minute and although Bedlinog’s kicker had the distance it was sliced wide.

Long kicks were in fashion from both sides until Monmouth put an expansive move together which got them out of their half and gained them some 50 metres before a knock on halted play.

Sixteen minutes in, the home team appeared to scrummage well, only to be penalised for the angle of their push.

A loose ball resulted from the penalty kick which the visitors pounced upon, chip-kicked to the line and won the chase for the first converted try of the day.

Advantage then swung Monmouth’s way, as first prop forward Dean Bartlett went over from near and then scrum-half Lewis Ryan made a spectacular jinking run over some 35 metres to score at the posts with both converted for a 14-7 lead.

The first of several injuries then occurred, first to right wing Matt Tabb and then to his counterpart John Royall on the left, on his very promising debut for the club.

And with further equally significant injuries to come later, that may partly explain why, despite two further first half tries by centre Morgan Jeffs and then second row Logan Woskett and a 26-10 score at the change-over, a substantial and vigorous comeback by Bedlinog was to follow.

Admittedly play was fairly even in the early stages of the second half, with perhaps the visitors slightly the more determined in having to chase the game.

Eventually they capitalised with a territory gain from further penalties when the increased vigour of their forwards was rewarded with an unconverted try from a driving maul in the right top-hand corner much to the delight of their relatively few but vocal supporters.

The referee by now had seen enough of infringements and issued a yellow card for not releasing after a tackle.

A couple of penalties later and Woskett was substituted to applause with fellow hard working lock Tom Hawkins having departed injured earlier.

And then play continued to fall apart as in a frantic period of loose passing the visitors intercepted and cleverly popped up the ball when tackled for a supporting player to add a further try which when converted narrowed the score to 26-22, and still with a full 20 minutes left to play.

A break by the visitors in their own half saw three missed tackles in succession by the hosts and a kick to the left-hand corner which full-back Dan White had covered, only to put in a poor clearance kick to touch.

And a further penalty for trying to slow down the ball at the ruck put Bedlinog back into the corner for a touch from which they broke through to score near the left corner.

The kick was successful despite being difficult and the visitors now led 29-26.

In the remaining 13 minutes Monmouth tried to pick up the pieces and were saved another score when new recruit and substitute left wing Jermarie Chathan chased down an attacker over 60 metres.

Unfortunately, despite his obvious pace he was little used for the rest of his debut.

Bedlinog defended stoutly and kicked long and deep by way of defending their lead and then Monmouth were further weakened by Bartlett being yellow carded for collapsing a maul.

And then to crown what had become a bad day at the office despite the highly promising first half, Monmouth won a penalty in the dying moments which could have drawn the game.

As the kick on offer was not a certainty, a kick to the corner was chosen with the chance of a winning score. But it was not to be, as a turnover by the visitors saw the ball safely kicked to touch.

Two points gained but perhaps four lost with hindsight and an even more testing game away to come against Penallta on Saturday (October 1).