Monmouth ease to win over Caldicot (From Free Press Series)

Monmouth ease to win over Caldicot

Monmouth continued their winning ways with a 20-12 win away at Caldicot last Saturday although nowhere near in the style with which they are capable.

It took only ten minutes for the Monmouth backs to spread the ball wide and with Laine showing some electric pace, he made around 35 yards untouched until he was all but forced over the left hand touch.

But with quick thinking he threw an overhead pass which the equally quick supporting wing man Gareth Morgan gathered and ran round almost to the posts for the opening try of the game. Forrest in his final game for Monmouth converted the easy kick.

This stirred the Caldicot team at the very time that Monmouth sat back on its laurels. Forwards became laggardly, leaving ball carriers to try to do things alone and without the support they needed encouraging Caldicot all the more.

Once people realised their mistake, their response although more determined was equally flawed with player upon player trying to force the pace resulting in error upon error.

And it was from such a turnover that Caldicot breached the Monmouth defence to level the scores 7 points apiece not long before half-time.

Now with the elements, Forrest scored a neat penalty after only five minutes of the new half, and Monmouth played now with greater cohesion and determination.

Taylor was at his most energetic, although at times was rightly criticised for taking wrong options when men were stacked outside him eagerly awaiting a chance to run at the opposition, Forrest at fly-half was more measured and distributed the ball well when he had it, and on occasions gained massive yardage with his powerful left boot.

Things began to click and in the middle of the half with Caldicot having to spoil and spoil again to slow down the game and substitute full back Berry adding some 'fizz', first centre Laine then right wing Brace crossed with style for unconverted tries.

This period of Monmouth advancement to 20-7 however led to a final resurgence by the home team and although the visitors never really looked like losing an unconverted try by Caldicot reducing the lead to 20-12.