WRU East One

Monmouth RFC 24 Dowlais 24

IN Wednesday evening’s fast fading light, Monmouth would probably have finished the season with a win given a few more minutes, but ended with a draw after a thrilling match.

At least they turned the tables somewhat against visitors Dowlais, who had beaten them comfortably away.

To mark the last game, Monmouth RFC U9s clapped both teams onto the pitch and then added their voices from the touchline.

Missing three key play players with a change of position for others, the first five minutes saw the hosts concede four penalties, although none were within kicking range.

Lewis Bates at centre was at his kicking best though, achieving clearances of half a pitch and right wing Matt Tabb sparkled, making a spectacular cut inside during an early Monmouth attack.

A poor drop goal attempt saw play fizzle out though, and Dowlais make an equally long clearance which the catcher fumbled.

The visitors’ blitz defence proved effective at keeping Monmouth constrained which, when combined with their driving play and good forward organisation, helped them open the scoring with a try on 16 minutes in the bottom right corner followed by an excellent conversion (0-7).

This fired up the hosts who were soon at the opposite end, and after several rucks, centre Amosa Nova used his strength to drive over for a try, which wasn’t converted (5-7).

Second row Connor Cadle was prominent in the line-out stealing the ball, as play went generally to and fro, punctuated only by the referee’s whistle for frequent penalties, including some for back chat over his decisions.

But Monmouth then took the lead after a series of rucks near the line, with alert wing Dan Dunmore going over and Rhys Jones converting (12-7).

And then disaster, as a long kick downfield by Dowlais was not claimed and the bounce went over the goal line for a visiting player to touchdown, although there was some argument as to whether he had or not.

It didn’t matter, as the referee converted it into a penalty try for Nove tagging an attacking player’s jersey in the process (12-14), although why, having scored, this needed upgrading and a yellow card was questioned by home supporters.

One man down, Monmouth struggled to plug the gaps for ten minutes with intense defensive effort, conceding penalties, including one for dragging down a maul near the posts which Dowlais used to stretch the lead to 12-17.

That was quickly followed by a Dowlais converted try, from a chip kick over the defence which bounced comfortably for the attacker.

At 12-24 the odds were looking stacked against the hosts, but despite the strength of the Dowlais pack, they began to look stronger, piling on the pressure.

And both Monmouth props, James Pardoe and Tom Green, each finally made it over the line to succeed in drawing what had been a keenly contested game.

And so the season ends with Monmouth comfortably escaping relegation above Abergavenny, but not excelling either.

There were many games where they went close, picking up bonus points along the way but others where they were a poor second.

But the plus side is that several young players have been blooded over the past few seasons and have continued to develop.

And with the good coaching staff in place, there will hopefully be better things to come.

Elsewhere, a depleted Usk were brought down to earth at East 2 table-toppers Rhymney in their last league game, losing 73-12 and dropping to fourth.

Chepstow play their last game in E3 at Risca this Saturday (May 2).