Ynysddu RFC 34 Monmouth Druids 10

MONMOUTH Druids’ latest challenge was against Ynysddu RFC in the valleys of Wales.

The players will have reflected on defeats in the last three games and they were greeted with dreadful weather as incessant rain and a swirling wind graced the ground. To make it an even greater challenge, the Druids only had fourteen players to counter the Ynysddu XV.

Within minutes the home side scored a well created try with a well placed cross kick from their outside half. The high kick was gathered by the left wing and he scuttled over in the left corner to give Ynysddu a 5-0 lead. This was short lived as the Druids responded swiftly. Tom Wellington charged through forcefully before feeding outside half Kris Gordon who in turn put in a grubber kick behind the Ynysddu defence. Following up he pounced on the ball and touched down near the posts and he duly converted to make the score 7-5.

The home pack were winning more than the Druids forwards and made the possession pay by regaining the lead after a strong run from the visitors 22 metre line. The try was converted for the home side to regain the lead 12-7.

Just before the interval Kris Gordon kicked a 30 metre penalty with a fine effort to reduce the arrears to 12-10. In an unusual event to bring the half time whistle, one of the post protectors was carried by the wind down the field. It was quickly retrieved and re-attached to the post.

To make the Druids task even more difficult in the second period, they lost a player with a back injury to bring their numbers down to thirteen. Ynysddu made the advantage pay, scoring a try from a tap penalty and two other tries following missed Druids tackles. Before the end of the game, Ynysddu went down to 14 as they lost a player to a yellow card for barging into the referee.

The match ended in a 34-10 defeat, but the tenacious Druids can be proud of the way they performed. Druids half backs Kris Gordon and Morgan Jeffs played well, as did all of the forwards.

The Druids’ next challenge is away at Caerleon this Saturday (2nd April).