A 21-POINT haul from fly-half Harry Johnson, including two tries, put the seal on a fine Monmouth win at Risca, reports PETE WALTERS.

The opening of the game on Saturday hadn’t boded so well when the kick-off was knocked on.

But play for both sides in the first half was fairly evenly matched, perhaps with Risca being marginally more penetrative.

Penalties, turn-overs and blown opportunities for both sides there were in profusion, aided maybe by the sporadic frequency of games these days and perhaps cold fingers in the sunny but breezy environment.

Monmouth’s support play was encouragingly better than in previous games with some strong carries, but one by Will Korb over 30-plus metres saw players to his left and right ignored in his desire to make the line before being tackled.

By the time he was forced to leave the field injured much later he had put himself about probably the best of his fellow forwards.

Risca were first to score through a mid-field penalty goal after half an hour following an earlier woeful miss despite a strong breeze at their back.

In retaliation Monmouth were soon camped on Risca’s goal-line where, despite several bombardments, the home defence held out with their line eventually being relieved by a penalty kick.

But it was the visitors who, despite some prior predictability in their three-quarter moves, saw centre Jordan Howells break and hand on to fly-half Harry Johnson to score for a seven-point try and a deserved 7-3 half-time lead.

Second row Logan Woskett set the example for what was to be a lively start to the second half with an interception and a good swerve followed by a strong drive.

Scrum-half Jeffs soon signalled the tactical pattern to come with a kick downfield to the right corner which led to pressure on the home line and soon a try by centre Jack Vaughan as the ball was passed along the line to the right and converted again by Johnson just six minutes into the half for a 14-3 lead.

Errors continued from both sides with poor kicking out of hand by Risca and some wayward line-out throwing by Monmouth which hampered their game.

Johnson, too, was developing a pattern of play though which was making good ground even if an early grubber kick went too far and was touched down over the line by a home defender.

Another Korb charge and some inter-passing almost brought a score but the pass up off the floor was sadly knocked on.

Korb then left the field in some discomfort but having put in a good shift whereupon his mantle was adopted by the young Matt Hurst who carried strongly as well as turning up and making his presence felt at most breakdowns.

The kicking game was becoming more important as Monmouth employed it on the wind keeping the pressure on with a successful 50-22 clearance on the right.

The front row drove hard 30 minutes in and three passes from the subsequent breakdown put wing Brett Thomas in to stretch the lead to 21-3.

Risca’s line-outs were working better now and a front drive from one gained them their first try followed by a rather laboured conversion attempt.

Monmouth kicked a penalty, but just four minutes after their first try a quick penalty in extra-time brought a flowing move far out to the right and another unconverted try for Risca for 24-13.

With there having been some time lost to injury, the score-line of 13-24 suggested the home team might secure a losing bonus point but Monmouth had other plans.

With the final whistle imminent, a series of pick and go moves made 15 metres when up popped Johnson to mark a fine game with a try and further conversion for a final score of 31-13.

Monmouth’s next scheduled Admiral National League East 1 1st XV game is a potential humdinger against Penallta at home on March 26, with the Druids playing Caldicot away on the 18th.

The remaining games after that are: 1st XV - Newbridge home April 2 and Brynmawr away on the 23rd, while the Druids will be playing Chepstow at Caldicot in a cup match on the 30th and last, but very much, not least on April 16 there will be a charity match in aid of the Ted Senior Foundation.

* Chepstow 1st XV lost out 34-10 at home to Abertysswg in the first round proper of the WRU Bowl on Saturday, while the 2nd XV went down to hosts Tonyrefail 2nds 27-5.

Usk’s match at Deri was postponed, but they host Aberavon Green Stars this Saturday (March 12) in the quarter-final of the Bowl.

Other fixtures this weekend include Whitehead v Chepstow, Abergavenny v Blackwood and Caldicot v 
Talywain.