WRU East One

Monmouth RFC 7 Newport HSOB 32

HAVING lost narrowly the preceding week to top of the league Blaina, Monmouth hosted second-placed Newport HSOB in their final competitive game of 2025.

They started well with centre Harry Whelan making an excellent break backed up by scrum-half Ollie Scrivens whose kick ahead made a deep touch.

Despite this encouraging start, it was the Old Boys who scored first from a three-quarter movement passing through quick hands for their very speedy winger to run some 40m to score without a meaningful hand being laid upon him.

Monmouth lifted themselves and then had the best of territorial advantage for some considerable time but to little avail as the city side defended with vigour.

Eventually, the scores were levelled after a maul driven over the visitors’ line with flanker Ryan Holder scoring and fly-half Lewis Bates adding the conversion.

Then came a setback as Scrivens was yellow carded for alleged stamping, which appeared to be more trying to release his foot being illegally held by a tackled player.

Despite this reduction in numbers, Monmouth continued to do well with centre Jordan Howells in particular quite prominent with his carrying, although at times perhaps there were opportunities for others outside him.

Line-out throwing was a little speculative throughout and an overthrow led to an advance by the visitors and from their position in the left-hand corner they were over to take a 7-12 lead which remained the score until half-time.

The second half commenced with a good opportunity for Monmouth in attack, but Howells chose to chip kick which was charged down and gave advantage to the visitors.

A superb cross-field kick was then taken cleanly by their tall right wing and Newport were into a 7-17 lead.

Monmouth were still not done though, and a slick attacking move along the back line threatened save for the final pass being correctly adjudged forward.

Not long after, a penalty against Monmouth was quickly taken by Newport from nowhere near the point of the offence, but nevertheless allowed them to stretch their lead to 7-22.

Monmouth by now were looking rather lacklustre and play was rather uneventful apart from a procession of missed tackles and a gradual growth in the number of tries scored by the visitors.

Whether this was due to early anticipation of Christmas festivities or perhaps some unwise early celebration, but Newport were now much sharper and the result became increasingly inevitable.

Some hope became apparent when from a kick ahead two players were up to catch it, but failed to ensure that one alone did with the result that a good opportunity was missed.

Newport in response moved the ball along the line and ran in yet again and untouched to increase the lead to 7-27.

And to the home team’s supporters’ disappointment, a quickly taken penalty by Scrivens was called back for not being over the mark, which was rather in contrast to what had been allowed for the other side previously.

But the day was not to be Monmouth’s and despite a last minute flurry of attempted attacks, Newport defended their 7-32 score well and Monmouth had to retreat to the clubhouse to regroup.