WRU East One

Nelson 43 Monmouth RFC 12

SATURDAY was not the start to the delayed season due to hard grounds that Monmouth wanted.

All out attack by Nelson from the very start meant that within three minutes the hosts were on the scoreboard with an unconverted try.

Wing Will Scriven’s game was already over with an injured shoulder which looked serious, and the kick from the restart went direct to touch, giving Nelson the first opportunity to use the power of the pack to test Monmouth’s scrum.

The visitors initially held firm, but despite some determined effort were under pressure later after losing two front row forwards to injury.

Clearance kicks up the slope to halfway repeatedly resulted in fast counter-attacks, and it required some serious tackling to prevent further early scores.

Nelson grubber-kicked dead on one occasion but next capitalised on an off-side penalty kick to the left-hand touch from which they drove over for a 10-0 lead shortly afterwards.

Conversions were a lottery in the gusting wind, although the weather was almost summer-like in spite of a light drizzle forecast.

Nelson’s speedy three-quarters were a constant threat, and the visitors were soon hampered by two yellow cards, during which they conceded an easy try, this time converted, to make it 17-0.

A deep penalty kick into the Nelson 22 brought some respite, but that was soon shattered by a red card for Monmouth for alleged stamping.

The decision was considered by some rather one-sided, with the hosts seemingly treated far more liberally than the visitors throughout most of the game.

With 10 minutes to half-time it was a case of concentrating on defence, but Nelson showed quick hands to exploit the wider spaces to score another converted score and lead 24-0 lead at the break, following a very lengthy half due to injury stoppages, largely to Monmouth players.

Then having kicked to touch from a penalty for holding on after the restart, Monmouth‘s defence was outflanked on the right for a further unconverted try to extend the lead to 29-0.

But Monmouth then displayed some attacking prowess of their own, moving the ball speedily to right wing Tom Andrew who, emulating his father and former player Rob Andrew, made a strong 40m run for a try which fly-half Rhys Jones was unable to convert into the wind, but at least put them on the board 29-5.

Dogged defence was still the order of the day but despite their endeavours, Nelson crept further ahead 36-5.

And then a Nelson high tackle, which the referee spotted but was slow to signal, brought a major fracas, resulting in another Monmouth player being sent off when several others might well have suffered the same fate.

Despite Nelson exploiting the fact their opponents now had only 13 men by extending the lead to 43-5, Monmouth, led by strong performances from centre Jordan Howells and captain Logan Woskett, stuck at it and scored through Max Wilshire, with Jones adding the conversion for a final score of 43-12.

The final minutes however were frenetic and 13-man Monmouth could well have scored twice more.

This Saturday, the challenge will be no less at Bedlinog, leaving Monmouth hoping this week’s injured players will have recovered by then.

Usk were pipped 32-25 at home by Newport Saracens, but Chepstow won 27-19 at Machen.

Gwernyfed host Usk on Saturday, while Chepstow host Garndiffaith.