WRU National League 2 East - Monmouth 32 Blackwood 0HAVING comfortably dispatched Usk in the annual Boxing Day friendly 25-14, and then Abertillery more convincingly 13-29 in the league on the 29th whilst also celebrating the 50th appearances in them of both Paul Emmanuelli and Amosa Nove, Blackwood were equally sent home with their tail between their legs following a convincing 32-0 reversal last Saturday (5th January).

This most recent game was not as dominant a result as the final score might suggest due to fluctuating degrees of activity by both sides, although Monmouth’s were obviously the more profitable gaining a bonus point for their four tries to nil on the day.

From the very outset, the home team was on the front foot with fly half Dan White nearly achieving an interception breakaway but for an unlucky knock-on. Scrum-half Josh Hughes, however, made up for the error with a scything break supported by full-back Rhys Gant for the game’s first try of the year converted by wing Spencer Cawley and this, a mere two minutes into play.

A penalty scoring opportunity was missed soon after, followed by a long grubber kick which was safely touched down in the visitors’ dead ball area serving only to encourage Blackwood who responded by forcing their way downfield into the right hand corner aided by a mid-field penalty.

The ensuing line-out was stolen from them largely due to their poor throwing-in which persisted to boost the home line-out count which when added to by a stronger front row ensured home forward dominance at least in the set-pieces.

Blackwood’s pack was tall and large and very good at carrying and off-loading but some superb tackling by the Monmouth back row and centres ensured they were kept at bay although not without an occasional close call.

The penalty count was large throughout resulting in a lecture to the Monmouth captain at one stage but it was his team that was to take advantage with an additional three points before halftime.

The second half kick off brought a repeat of earlier lack of concentration by Blackwood allowing Gant to run freely for some 45 metres before finding White up in support to open the scoring and for Cawley to take it to 17-0 with only a minute gone.

Another close attempt went begging because of a knock-on but once Monmouth had scored another penalty to make it 20-0 they appeared to rest on their laurels and even though Blackwood lost a player to the bin for persistently pulling down in the line,it was the depleted visitors who next took advantage of a rather lack-lustre spell by the home team.

Prop Tom Green, who is beginning to excel, eventually got them back on track by breaking two attempted tackles near the visitors’ line for Hughes to take his cue to score after slipping out of two attempted tackles on him. Cawley again added the extras.

With a full quarter yet to play and a bonus point try still to achieve, hopes were high of a scintillating finish, but the entertainment became one more of pugilism born of frustration in a Blackwood second-row forward who seemed to want to take on the world after losing his scrum cap in a maul. Unfortunately the referee was unsighted, penalising Monmouth, but having missed the cowardly attack on a player from behind, not unlike the attack that broke the jaw of a Monmouth player in the away fixture in mid-September.

Peace quickly restored, there followed several attacking moves towards either end which fizzled out, including a particularly good one with the ball passing through many Monmouth hands before a handling error. But Monmouth, still needing that elusive bonus point with three minutes of ordinary time remaining, put a clinical move together starting with White supported by Gant handing on for centre Amosa Nove to score. That Cawley missed the kick now seemed incidental.

To Blackwood’s credit, despite the game now being convincingly lost, they hammered the Monmouth line, first in the right corner and then the left, but it was not to be as Monmouth held out for this almost convincing win.

Photos courtesy of Gareth Roberts