WRU East One
Monmouth 1st XV 28 Bedlinog 27
LEAGUE leaders Bedlinog were the visitors to the Sportsground on Saturday and what a game it was, with seven tries and just a point in it, reports PETE WALTERS.
In returning the kick-off, Monmouth's over-eagerness to chase brought an off-side penalty instantly deep in their own half.
And a line-out and maul brought the first score, putting the hosts 7-0 down right from the start!
Both sides then vigorously tested each other out, including a wide ballooning pass to the Monmouth wing.
Speedy transfer to wings may be a good tactic, but high floated passes also give time for the defence.
But holding on at a ruck brought a penalty kick to touch and a maul for Monmouth, from which scrum-half Oliver Scriven cut a lovely angle and the scores were level courtesy of the boot of full-back Jeffery Erasmus.
Parity was short-lived, as the Foxes slotted an easy penalty for a ruck infringement, but then evens again at 10-10 almost immediately for a similar offence.
The visitors were carrying well and it took a brave tackle by centre Dan Dunmore to stop an attack before he overran a scoring pass near the line, it having been forward.
But a successfully floated pass out to the right then found Dunmore on hand to take the inside pass for a converted try and a 17-10 lead.
Second row Shaun Hobbs and substitute frontrower Mattie Cotton then took Monmouth deep into the Bedlinog half but Scriven fumbled at the ruck.
Next Cotton intercepted near halfway, but again a high pass was knocked on, before Bedlinog also missed a chance when a penalty fell short just before the break.
Monmouth started the second half playing down the slope with a good forward break, but a chip ahead with an apparent overlap on the right saw the chance go begging.
Another attack brought another long pass and knock-on which was hacked on by Bedlinog only for their wing to be put into touch by a crunching tackle, retaliation for which brought a Monmouth penalty to regain position deep in the visitors' half.
But they were penalised for taking down a scrum, and a touch and driving maul resulted in defensive disarray from which the Foxes levelled 17-17.
Dogged Bedlinog defence then held the hosts out, while a penalty kick for an offside slip-up was off target.
Pressure now swung the other way and a Monmouth offside was converted for Bedlinog to take a three-point lead.
But within two minutes the hosts were in front 22-20, fly-half Lewis Bates cutting through and finding wing Amosa Nove on his right to score in the corner.
Captain Logan Woskett and his hooker were combining well at the line-out and a series of rucks brought a Monmouth penalty which Erasmus claimed to make it 25-20.
Play became more fast and furious as the clock ran down and when Bedlinog fly-kicked over the line their loud claims for a touch-down when the ball had gone dead brought hoots of derision from their even more unsighted supporters when a goal-line drop-out was ordered.
Monmouth next edged further ahead with a penalty made easier by Bedlinog questioning the decision (28-20).
But the Foxes then caught the full-back in possession and won the scrum by driving forward and the ball popping out and over the line for one of their sharper players to dab down for an easily converted try (28-27).
Monmouth were hanging on, and yet they somehow stuck it out with the final crescendo being catching Bedlinog's left winger who had made immense ground and holding him up up in the tackle for the final whistle to sound.
Bedlinog supporters were not happy, but nevertheless came away with two try-scoring and losing bonus points.
Monmouth though will have done their chances against new leaders Abertillery BG away on Saturday (November 9) no harm confidence-wise.
Elsewhere, Usk lost 39-24 at home to E2 leaders Blackwood but are looking forward to their 150th anniversary brunch this Sunday (November 10, tickets Ben Papp – 07702 531106/ Richard Williams – 07836 315981) before a live screening of the Wales v Fiji match.
Usk host Cwmbran on Saturday, while Chepstow host New Panteg.