WRU National League 3 East A - Machen 12 Monmouth 79

ON the hottest day of the year thus far, Monmouth were spared having to play the full 80 minutes of the game against Machen last Saturday when the referee blew up early with both captains’ agreement, with the score at 12-79 and and with a quarter of an hour left to play.

In what was an important game for Monmouth to win in their pursuit of league promotion, full back and centre Amosa Nove had scored his first of eight tries within three minutes of the start following a destructive drive in a scrum.

His hat-trick was slightly delayed following a well coordinated move from deep held together by an excellent take of a high pass by flanker Rhys Davies, before being rounded off from a quickly penalty by scrum half Dan White.

But it was Nove’s third in the 13th minute that brought the try scoring bonus point. No-one it seemed could lay a hand on him and if they did, no-one could contain the determination and pace he was displaying. Probably his best display yet!

Monmouth were not out of sight yet but when Machen had their first chance, their poor penalty line kick to the corner saw wing Dan Williams recover 70 metres of territory with an exceptionally strong run. Once stopped the ball was recycled and some clever interpassing amongst the forwards saw Nove pop up to score again near the sticks.

Tom Hawkins was prominent as was Dean Bartlett with strong carries and Scott Giles was as combative as usual until the heat understandably got to them. But following a spate of penalties as players tried unsuccessfully to slow the game down, Machen eventually forced a line-out in the top right hand corner and drove over for their first score at the end of what must have seemed to them a very long initial quarter.

Matt Tabb was all but next on the scoreboard and with the power of the Monmouth pack again to the fore, the penalty try they won took them past the visitors’ 100th league match try of the season.

By now the home team had drained their resources up front and passive scrums were called for which of course limited Monmouth’s dominance to some extent but at least helped allow for some timely substitutions limiting the risk of injuries for the four remaining games of the season.

Nove was, however, on song and scored two more tries for a 5-43 lead at the break which the forwards at least appreciated, with a refreshed Bartlett leading the way out of defence to find support for a further score one minute into the half.

Machen responded with a quickly taken line-out in the bottom left hand corner. The conversion of the try was superb, unlike some of Monmouth’s, brought them slightly nearer at 12-50.

Fresh legs in the shape of Max Davies saw an unimpeded try for him followed soon by White making a swerving 65 metres from deep for another.

Egged on by a good crowd of travelling supporters who have yet to jointly agree what the record number of tries scored in a season is, Nove revelled in the gaps that were appearing or which he forced, by adding three more tries of his own before the early close.

Newport HSOB will undoubtedly provide far sterner opposition tonight (Wednesday 9th May) at their Caerleon home, followed by two further games at Blackwood Stars on Saturday and then at home to Chepstow on Tuesday 15th before the closing test of the year when Abergavenny visit on 19th May.

Photos courtesy of Gareth Roberts