Ian ‘Sedge’ Seymour Memorial Match Monmouth RFC 1st XV 60 Berry Hill 1st XV 7
IT proved a fabulous day in memory of Ian ‘Sedge’ Seymour, former coach to both Monmouth and Berry Hill Rugby Clubs on Chippenham on Chippenham last Saturday, reports PETE WALTERS.
Two entertaining rugby matches were played in front of a large crowd of spectators who enjoyed refreshments and ice cream, as our record-breaking summer provided hot conditions.
The 2nd teams played first and despite the visitors leading 0-7 for a while, Monmouth increased the tempo, eventually winning comfortably, 27-12.
The 1st XV then showed how their pre-season efforts are working with two tries inside the first ten minutes, firstly from prop Mattie Cotton and then flanker Jack Edwards.
Fly-half Dan White had not yet broken in his new (that day) kicking boots and was lucky to be credited with one of the earlier conversions, which questionably ricocheted in and over off the uprights whilst the other missed.
Berry Hill dug in and after winning a penalty for one of their mauls being collapsed, they pressed hard and a missed tackle brought them back to a 12-7 deficit just before the first quarterly interval.
Thereafter though, with the home pack extending their control and full-back Dan Dunmore making massive gains with his pace and eye for a gap, the tries came thick and fast despite the increasingly debilitating heat.
Punctuated by not infrequent penalties for dissent by both sides which ultimately brought a yellow card for the visitors, Monmouth were superior when they allowed their skills to do the talking.
Despite finding themselves with two players in the bin almost simultaneously, at one stage, their support play and crisp passing complemented their strong scrummaging, steadily added to the scoreline.
Half-backs Lewis Ryan and White regularly linked well, providing the inspiration for others to keep going, too.
Mattie Cotton, Morgan Jeffs, Dean Bartlett, Ollie Scrivens joined Dunmore and White in going over, with the No 15 capping a fine personal performance with an almost full-length of the field run near the end.
From the breakdown, Monmouth moved the ball to the extreme right where wing Richard Jones crashed over and White made up for some earlier misses by converting with precision to cap the score at 60-7.
All in all, an excellent day out, culminating with much singing and dancing throughout the evening as well as one lucky winner in the raffle on the day gaining two desirable tickets for the Wales v England international next year.
This Saturday (September 3) will be tougher though, when the new season proper – the club’s 150th anniversary year – starts with the first league game home against Senghenydd, kick-off 2.30m, and the club would love to see plenty of support for their local team.