WRU?National League 2 East - Monmouth RFC 37 Caerphilly 21

INSPIRED by the sunny afternoon and a large crowd, Monmouth set about their game with Caerphilly in the free flowing style with which they are fast becoming associated.

Within two minutes of the kick off, following a series of winning rucks, a fast accurate pass from fly half Paul Emmanuelli set off the backs and full back Rhys Gant was on hand to complete the speedy slick move for the first converted try of the day.

Scrum-half Josh Hughes showed he had also got the message with an early strong burst but play settled down as the referee established his personal authority with a series of penalty awards. Despite one of these being kickable the home team went for touch in the right corner in search of another try instead but the opportunity was lost.

Undaunted, Hughes caught his opposite number in possession with a penalty resulting, but a further kick to the corner brought a yellow card for a visiting player going into the maul on the side. With one player less, Caerphilly were stretched in the next attack which saw wing Dan White initiate a move bringing his fellow backs into play with centre Morgan Paley crossing for an unconverted try and a 12 point lead.

The visitors responded immediately, pressurising the line but at the ruck they conceded a penalty. Amosa Nove redressed the balance charging down his left wing. Measured footballer as he is, he drew a defender and passed inside for it to be taken on and putting Emmanuelli in for a try near the posts which he converted.

At 19-0 with 10 minutes of the first half to play, a bonus point looked likely and before half-time. But it was not to be, as two successive penalties gifted to Caerphilly brought them a touch in the left corner. The first attack from the line-out was held up but when they received another penalty for offside near the posts they moved to the corner with yet another penalty resulting. This time their maul was poorly defended and they narrowed the score to 19-7 just before half-time.

A degree of complacency must have crept in during the break or Caerphilly were persuaded of their own strengths, because with Monmouth’s tackling suddenly looking lax, the visitors pounded them and were up to 19-14 in no time at all. Worse still, Monmouth lost a player to the sin-bin for a high tackle that made no contact, though the high sweeping arm above a falling player showed intent.

A penalty eased the pressure at 22-14 which perhaps suggested the earlier spurned opportunities may have been a mis-judgement but, when their scrum took a strike against the head despite the size and strength of the visitors, an outrageous step by Gant opened up the field and set Nove on his way up the right. As defenders converged, a challenge he relishes, the bonus point was achieved tight in the corner.

To even things up, Caerphilly were strangely allowed to claim non-contested scrums and it was not long before they were driving over the line once again for it to be held up. Dissent followed as pressures showed through. Some sloppy ball handling by both sides may have raised excitement levels but not the scores, despite the visitors looking the more threatening at this stage.

A further penalty and touch in the corner brought a drive for Caerphilly to draw within one score and make the nail biting amongst home supporters increase, before Emmanuelli trusted his boot more and stretched the score to 30-21 with a neatly taken drop goal.

Visiting dissent grew along with a tackle off the ball, improving Monmouth’s chances as it did so. The Monmouth pack’s fitness was also assisting now and it was fitting that the hard working second row Scott Giles was available to crash over near the posts following yet another penalty.

Following this result and a defeat for second placed Senghenydd, Monmouth are now the only undefeated side in their league and with a six point lead.

Quite how a prolonged gap without games due to Autumn Internationals will prepare Monmouth for their visit to Senghenydd at the start of December is anyone’s guess but a stirring game can confidently be expected!

Photos courtesy of Gareth Roberts