Boxing Day Friendly

Monmouth 11 Usk 7

WITH a good crowd of visiting Usk supporters following their 22-10 morning win in the 2nd XVs’ friendly, initial signs were worrying for Monmouth as the visiting pack trundled their opponents back in the scrums forcing penalties, although the home maul defence proved spontaneous and strong, reports PETE WALTERS.

Deep kicking out of defence gained ground, and it was fly-half Lewis Bates who neatly drew a defender to put wing Harry Whelan in on the left early on for a 5-0 lead.

Usk responded and when Monmouth scrum-half Oliver Scriven was accidentally pole-axed, full back Dan White stepped up to take his place, only to see the visitors promptly take a 7-5 lead from a simple pick up and over from the back of a collapsing scrum.

The response was immediate however, with wing Arnold Jarvis quickly up in pursuit of a long punt before the Usk scrum-half, having not heeded high tackle warnings by the referee, was yellow-carded.

A touch followed from which captain, and, this time blind-side flanker, Logan Woskett was over, but the try was disallowed for offside.

Usk were then awarded a penalty near the home line despite it seeming that their players were being given the strong talking to, but their kick to touch only brought the half-time whistle.

A rejuvenated Monmouth were quickly into their second half paces with White making ground with his elusive running and going over after a quick penalty, only to be recalled for it to be retaken.

Play was frequently punctuated by the referee’s lectures, largely to Usk, but with insufficient sanction, but then maybe it was a Christmas ‘friendly’?.

But a move first right and then left by the Monmouth backs then brought a second yellow card for the Usk scrum-half which became a red for his repeat offence and took Monmouth into an 8-7 lead.

The visitors defended more frantically now, but it was soon 11-7 from the boot of Bates for offside at a defensive ruck.

A good kick upfield gained territory for Usk but left prop Luke Hunter temporarily ‘beached’ from an injury before getting back on his feet.

Usk’s one-man shortage was telling now with some dissent, but things were evened up when Monmouth were yellow-carded for a ‘dangerous’ tackle on a player who fell in to the tackle.

But although Usk made Monmouth work hard defensively in the closing stages, it was the hosts who were jubilant as the final whistle sounded.

This Saturday, Monmouth host Pontypool United in the league, while Usk are home to Blaina.