WRU East One

Newport HSOB 12 Monmouth RFC 10

HAVING drawn at home earlier in the season, the trip to Newport HSOB was always going to be challenging, but Monmouth's first-half performance was so positive, one wondered why they only had the one try to their credit instead of four, reports PETE WALTERS.

Host club officials said afterwards Monmouth had been the better side and the Old Boys “had got out of jail“.

But it was no consolation, as Monmouth lost the fourth v fifth clash with the conversion of the final try bang on the final whistle.

The referee, who was being assessed, was fairly limited in his signalling on his decisions and appeared hasty at times, early on halting a Monmouth three-quarter move deep in the home half with a five-to-two overlap because of ‘no advantage’.

Both sides used the superb playing conditions to test each other with spiralling kicks and the handling was sufficiently good for the most part to receive the ball safely and make ground.

Monmouth pounded the home line incessantly early on, but it was 30 minutes before they were rewarded with a try from a good three-quarter move finished off by fly-half Lewis Bates, following an inside pass from fullback Dan White, which wing Matt Tabb converted.

Before then their efforts were frustrated by over-eagerness, handling errors and even line-kicking a penalty dead.

The hosts barely got out of their own half in the first half, but when they did threaten, the Monmouth defence was very good at chop-tackling their strong carriers.

HSOB’s scramble defence successfully snuffed out a move along the line to the left only for the ball carrier to be tackled into touch.

Monmouth chances improved as half-time approached when one of the hosts' burlier front row was yellow carded for stamping on an arm, but this was soon counterbalanced when a Monmouth wing was sin-binned for offside in a near try-scoring situation.

The second half started differently, with the hosts noticeably more lively and running direct.

And their No 8 showed his prowess as a ball carrier with an explosive run resulting in a try, although the relatively easy conversion was sliced.

Monmouth second row Logan Woskett excelled in the line-out, with credit to hooker Joe Christopher whose throwing was almost faultless, not to mention his tackling.

A penalty near the posts saw Monmouth run the ball to no good effect, but when the same situation arose again, they took a kick at goal which Tabb converted for 10-5.

Then a deep kick up-field saw a late tackle on the kicker penalised, and Tabb tried his luck from 45m, but it fell short under the bar.

The drop-out was caught cleanly and brought a good charge by flanker Kester Mobbs-Morgan taken on by centre Morgan Jeffs.

More attacks followed, but ended in handling errors or attackers forced into touch.

In return HSOB were forceful although their heavier pack was well held by the visitors, with some show-stopping tackles, though it sometimes took an attempt or three to halt some of the incursions.

Then right at the death, an HSOB penalty kick to touch on the right opened the way for a last-ditch dash along the touch-line for a try in the corner.

The difficult yet successful conversion broke the visitors’ hearts and resulted in ecstasy for the home fans, who openly admitted ‘the best team had lost’.

Monmouth are away again this Saturday (March 8) at Dowlais.

Elsewhere, Usk lost 20-12 at Pill Harriers in East 2, while Chepstow were edged out 26-22 at Fleur de Lys in E3.