Monthmouth bring 2 sides to Aber

The final league fixture of 2024 provided a mouth-watering encounter between local rivals Abergavenny and Monmouth. Monmouth, who have had some notable victories in recent weeks were keen to revenge the defeat to Abergavenny in the opening fixture of the season. Abergavenny selected  Liam Williams, Robbie Lewis, Matt Charles, Will Evans, Dan Beavan, Harry Judd, Luke Evans, Rob Dudley-Jones in the forwards. Rhys Ferguson Dayle Price, Will Dudman, Harvey Barrier, Tom Foley, Anthony Squire and Ben Evans.

In the early exchanges both sides showed a willingness to spread the ball wide and tested the opponent’s defenses, but both stood firm resulting in very few scoring opportunities in the first quarter. Liam Williams, Robbie Lewis and Matt Charles gave the home side an advantage at scrum time which put Monmouth’s attacking threat on the back foot for much of the first half. Rob Dudley- Jones and replacement Max Gregory carried well to keep Abergavenny moving up field while Luke Evans was strong over the ball. The deadlock was broken when after a concerted period of pressure in which Tom Foley had made a clean break in mid field, Rob Dudley-Jones forced his way over for the opening try giving Abergavenny a 5 – 0 lead. Having given away several soft penalties Abergavenny found themselves defending their own line, after several attacking phases Kester Mobbs-Morgan found space out wide to score Monmouth’s try which went unconverted levelling the scores at 5 – 5 going into half-time.

Eoin Shackleton and Kiatisak Tinanop were introduced at the start of the second half, with the scores level the pressure was building with both the players and spectators. Kicks at goal were drifting wide of the mark on both sides, every attacking move was breaking down with an error or determined tackling. The vocal decibels of the crowd were rising and so the stage was set for someone to win the game for either side. The pendulum of territory and possession swung from side to side, kickable opportunities came and went and half chances were not taken. As darkness approached and the clock ran down the referee brought to an end an enjoyable game of rugby with a draw probably a fair result from this full-blooded local derby.

The Quins played the Druids on the bottom pitch in an athletic league fixture. In the first half Monmouth were in the ascendancy scoring four tries with one for Abergavenny for Morgan West-Jones. Abergavenny Quins came back into the game in the second half with tries for Aaron Mills and Rob Lothian but Monmouth ran out winners by 29 – 17.

Abergavenny welcomed Newport High School Old Boys for Double Header

Abergavenny selected Tom Powell, Robbie Lewis, Matt Charles, Seth Butler, James Trumper, Dan Beavan, Harry Judd and Rob Dudley- Jones in the forwards. Dylan Edwards, Lewis Prendergast, Kiatisak Tinanop, Harvey Barrier, Rhys Ferguson, Anthony Squire and Ben Evans in the backs.

Abergavenny began the game passing the ball around to great effect, testing out the Old Boys defense. Ill discipline crept into their game and Abergavenny took full advantage, from a lineout close to the Old Boys line the home side secured good lineout ball and drove the maul over the tryline with Hooker Robbie Lewis scoring the opening try, converted by Harvey Barrier. The Old Boys then had a dominant period in the game, Concerted pressure and many phases of play created an opening out wide for their first try, levelling the scores 7 –  7. Straight from the kick-off the receiver broke through several missed tackles splitting the Abergavenny defense after a few phases of play the Old Boys were over for their second try, taking a 7 – 14 lead. Abergavenny now realized beating Newport HSOB would require their very best performance as they had an attacking threat in all parts of their team and a very organized defense. To their credit Abergavenny met the challenge head on for the rest of the first half and were rewarded when Dan Beavan broke away from a breakdown and popped a scoring pass onto Rhys Ferguson to level the scores at 14 – 14 at halftime.

Eoin Shackleton, Alfie Lewis and Max Gregory were introduced at halftime. The Old Boys started the second half strongly but determined defense by the home side held them out and the game went into the final quarter at 14 – 14. The dead lock was broken when the Old Boys were awarded a scrum penalty, a few phases of attacking three quarter play created space for a try in the corner, which was converted to open a 14 – 21 lead. Abergavenny had a chance to level the scores soon afterwards only for the ball to be spilled in the act of scoring. Abergavenny continued to attack the Old Boys but organized strong defense kept knocking the home side back at every opportunity. Towards the end of the game, two penalty kicks put the game beyond the home side and so Newport HSOB left Bailey Park with a deserved win by 27 – 14.