WITH all the bottom clubs enjoying a weekend off in Division Four East, Monmouth put their relegation fears to one side on Saturday with a confidence boosting 39-10 friendly win over Forest rivals Lydney.

In scoring seven tries to Lydney's two, and at times having to defend desperately, Monmouth gave themselves the best preparation possible for the pinnacle of their season - their final league game of the season away at Trinant this Saturday. And had the wind not kept the conversion count down, Monmouth could have run out winners by 50-points plus.

Within a few minutes of the start flanker Michael Griffiths weaved his way through grasping tackles to crash over on the left, then Dave Brace kicked the conversion despite the acute angle. Lydney answered with a drive-over maul but the home side immediately bounced back through second row Kelly Lehemann.

Scrum-half Gareth Morgan made it 17-5 within a mere 18 minutes of the start then Griffiths added his second try of the day before half time. Dave Brace later ran a full 80-yards for his first of three tries, as flanker Dave Morgan and hooker Leighton Phillips were exploited the gaps that were opening up before them.

Lydney's right wing boosted his team's confidence a little with an unconverted try halfway out on the right to bring the score to 29-10. But Brace scored again with two minutes to go, then bamboozled the retreating opposition from almost halfway to the goal line to complete a fine hat trick.

Monmouth RFC are now calling on a big away following for the final game at Trinant this Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm), with the club's Division Four status hanging by a thread.