WRU National League 3 East A - RTB Ebbw Vale 17 Monmouth 83

IN glorious weather it took Monmouth full back Amosa Nove just seven minutes to score a hat-trick of tries to set up a 17-83 rout at RTB Ebbw Vale last Saturday.

Slow out of the blocks, the hosts were quite taken aback by the pace and breadth of the early Monmouth attacks, who, in turn, were altogether quickly on fire with charging runs by their forwards and with hooker Dean Bartlett proving an early handful and scrum half Dan White always looking for opportunities.

Nove’s tries were all built on his ability at reading situations backed up by his pace and power supported well by others but although Bartlett was well up when an RTB defender tried to run out of defence from his in-goal area, his elusiveness led the referee to perceive Bartlett being wrong footed as an attempt to trip which earned him a ten minute rest ‘in the bin’.

Despite the pack now being down to seven playing eight, their power was such that they even won a scrum against the head, with dominance in the scrummage being helpful throughout along with strong runs led by props Jamie Ridgeway and captain Zen Szwargzak.

The home team were dependent on just kicking to make ground in the early stages of the game but even this was risky as shown when White, covering back, set off again on a sparkling run almost the full length of the field rounded off with some tricky side-stepping to gain Monmouth a bonus point for their fourth try - and this, just 15 minutes from the start!

A hint of ‘job done’ unwisely brought some relaxation giving RTB the breather they needed and to their credit they began to display their ability at driving mauls and although Monmouth seemed to defend well for a while they eventually cracked and their hosts were also on the score-board at 7-24.

The much changed from normal visiting back row were proving a good unit with sparkle of their own. Grant straightened a move up and broke through and the irrepressible White was there in support to add to his earlier try, this time near the posts. Not that wing Cowley needed such assistance because his goal kicking was good throughout, even from near touch.

White was involved again when he picked up and set Nove away for another try and 7-38.

Others tried hard, not least of all, centre Morgan Paley but it was not to be his day although his tackling was as good as ever as well as making ground upon which others could capitalise.

But with the half-time whistle anticipated RTB moved up-field but a signalled pass in their backs allowed fly-half Lee to intercept and run in without a hand being laid upon him. Cowley again converted for a 7-45 score at the break.

RTB benefitted from the break and showed more determination in the second half but their backs were still not quite clicking, passing direct to touch at one stage. Their forwards pressurised Monmouth though, largely through their lines-out and ability to maul and after making progress up the left touch-line were to eventually force their way over again.

Their next incursion was a rather naive kick straight to full-back Nove who ran and threw a wide pass to White who broke and linked with Paley who continued and fed Lee for another score. At 12-52 RTB called for passive scrums as they had used up their limited front row substitutes but the rout continued as a move initiated by Paley led to clever inter passing rounded off by a further try by Lee.

The home team battled on but when the ball was ripped form them in a tackle, White was again on hand to side-step his way in for another.

Substitute wing Matt Tabb was next to outflank RTB for the first of his two tries but RTB battered their way over for a try of their own as Monmouth lost another player to a yellow card.

Coley was also the beneficiary of a lofted pass before Tabb completed his brace and though both teams tried their utmost to score again, time was soon up on an outstanding victory for the visitors.

With Saturday’s victory begins a congested few weeks for Monmouth. Usk visit the Sportsground this evening 25th April (kick off 6.30pm) when the game should be closer, followed by another home game on Saturday (28th April) against Chepstow, as Monmouth prepare to play their remaining seven games in four weeks.

Photos courtesy of Gareth Roberts