WRU East One

Senghenydd RFC 19 Monmouth RFC 26

WITH low cloud obscuring the neighbouring hillsides, the floodlights sparked the usual enthusiasm of the Senghenydd Youth chorus, who gave encouragement and not a little criticism to the referee throughout, reports PETE WALTERS.

Monmouth were first out of the blocks, which is unusual for most visiting sides given the journey they have to make.

But it was Senghenydd who were caught cold, and with only five minutes gone, an expansive move to the right gave wing Matt Tabb a clear run in around the defence almost to the posts, making it easy for the conversion which he added.

Strong tackling by both sides was in evidence, as was the ability of both to find long touch clearances, although this sometimes turned into a form of rugby ‘ping-pong’.

Scrums went marginally to the hosts with their significant weight advantage, but the Monmouth pack were never seriously shunted.

The ability of both sides to defend driving mauls made these even-stevens although the line-out went the way of the visitors, with the accurate throwing of hooker Joe Christopher and safe catching of second row and captain Logan Woskett in particular.

Such lineout dominance brought a penalty for interference in the air and play moved to the left-hand corner.

And a clever chip kick over the goal line then saw the ball bouncing wildly before returning centre Dan Dunmore nailed the try.

The kick was again an easy one for Tabb and put Monmouth 14-0 ahead after 23 minutes.

Dunmore featured again cutting a clever angle in a set-piece move, and from the ruck Monmouth won a penalty for a Senghenydd offside, Tabb adding three more points with 13 minutes to half-time.

Monmouth’s kicking to gain territory combined with speedy passing along their back line suggested a bonus points win.

But Senghenydd then forced a five-metre scrum in the left hand corner, and with the defence concentrating on not allowing the scrum to be driven over, a simple pass out saw the wing over for their first score, which wasn't converted, leaving it 17-5 at the break.

A knock-on soon after the restart by Senghenydd led to a superb long kick by fly-half Lewis Bates, only for the referee to recall play for a scrum, which made rather a nonsense of there having been no advantage to the visitors from the kick.

He was however firm when it came to dissent and one such instance led to an easy penalty kick for Tabb as the hosts were marched back 10m.

But the hosts were now playing with greater vigour thanks to the three influential substitutes they introduced after half-time.

A break through the centre looked decisive, but Dunmore did well in hunting down the runner before he could score.

Bates then retrieved the situation with a 35m kick upfield only to win a penalty for obstruction and then 10m more for questioning the decision.

And at the close of the third quarter Tabb had no difficulty in stretching the lead to 20-5.

The hosts however responded when a forward broke through the centre of a ruck seemingly from nowhere to score near the posts, narrowing the lead after the conversion to 20-12.

Monmouth hit straight back as Tabb converted a penalty for offside (23-12).

The hosts’ supporters now urged their side on even more vociferously, but the Monmouth back-row's tackling, particularly Adam Roberts, was resolute.

A try was saved by a last ditch tackle into touch at which stage Tabb after a good shift was substituted by Will Scriven.

Senghenydd continued to carry well and then narrowed the score to just four points with a converted try (23-19).

Tensions were growing as the final whistle neared, but bang on full-time Monmouth won another penalty which Bates converted for a 26-19 final score and a move up the table to fifth.

Elsewhere, Usk thrashed East 2 basement boys Risca 62-8 at home and stay sixth.

Most grassroots rugby now takes a week off with Wales hosting Ireland in the Six Nations this Saturday (February 22).

Fixtures on March 1 include – Newport HSOB v Monmouth, Pill v Usk, Fleur De Lys v Chepstow.