An important game against visitors Senghenydd for ensuring Monmouth were keeping well out of risk of relegation in a season in which they had, until Saturday, won 6, lost 6 and drawn 2 games. Despite their mid table position there was little room for error.

Noteworthy, too, for scrum-half Ollie Scrivens making his 50th appearance for the 1st XV during which he was to not only score but show his usual lively self.

Senghenydd had learnt from the mistake of starting off slowly in the recent home match which Monmouth had won but it was again their opponents that were first on the score-board with a Tabb penalty inside five minutes.

With both sides hard at it the ruck clearances were quick, making for an expansive game from the start with a successful exchange of penalties making it 6-3 inside the first quarter which was then rounded off by a sustained Monmouth attack of several phases and carries with fly half White up in support to score and for Tabb to again convert.

From a failed penalty kick by Monmouth for touch after the restart Senghenydd’s threatening attack by way of return was stopped by a good Scriven (the elder) tackle. Play though was recalled for a penalty and the visitors narrowed the score to 13-6 and all this inside the first 20 minutes.

By now with an exciting game developing the home crowd had swelled but unusually the visitors were smaller in numbers and certainly quieter than their usual selves.

With some equal spells of dogged but necessary defence over a ten minute period Monmouth and Tabb kicked another successful penalty followed quickly by a Monmouth free kick from a scrum which saw first, 2nd Row Hobbs and then Bartlett put in good carries, breaking tackles as they went.

With more clement weather than we have been used to the match official called a water break which rejuvenated Hobbs sufficiently to immediately burst through. Prop Cotton, showing his increasing prowess, was up to carry on, draw his man and put in scrum-half Scriven in for a converted try and a 23-6 lead.

With five minutes to the break and the visitors noticeably tiring, a quick penalty by White fed centre Dunmore for another converted try and with a minute to half time, full-back Jeffs scored the bonus point 4th try again converted by Tabb.

At 37-6 and the home team needing no encouragement saw a Hobbs break following the re-start and a run in over some 40 metres to deservedly stretch the score as reward for his Herculean efforts throughout the game to 44-6.

Running rampant at this stage, the home team from a kick ahead saw Tabb up to gather but tap tackled, Cotton was on hand to widen the score to 51-6. Senghenydd seemed to be struggling now for pace and stamina and their front row was obviously feeling the pressure in set pieces although, in fairness, these larger men could still display deft hands when necessary in attack.

Bates had now replaced Jeffs at full back but showing his eagerness by sometimes playing like a flanker at the breakdown he was on hand to move the score on to 58-6. But to Senghenydd’s credit they did not give up and responded with a converted try of their own after the game had entered its final quarter.

Bates, in turn with his relatively fresh legs, then broke the line and carried well to find White in support to hand on to Tabb to score and convert for a 65-13 lead.

Not to be outdone, the visitors came back as Monmouth began to appear a little blasé, and with good hands on display including a reverse pass through a pair of legs eventually led to a kick through which Senghenydd followed up to bring a final score of 65-20.

A stunning result, albeit against an apparently weakened side, but a potential banana skin of Pontypool Utd. awaits next week again at home when concentration must again be on the importance if another win.