A win in the rain

Always a tough opponent, Monmouth proved once again that they had the firepower. In what turned out to be a nail biter of a game in very wet conditions both teams gave their all with OBs scoring the winning try in the last minute of the game

Special mention to the forwards who really picked up their game after the Bath defeat. They played with a determination and spirit that will be the benchmark for the next game. Their rucking was powerful and technically more in line with how we need to play against bigger teams, giving Charlie more time to play.

In the wet conditions there will always be a lot of loose ball and Sam, Laurence and Tom in the back row did plenty of brave work on the ground to secure possession. Barney muscled his way into the spotlight with a storming run up the blindside while Matty played in his traditional no-nonsense style driving hard and mauling fiercely. Westie, Andy and new hooker Matt squeezed Monmouth up front so much they had to go to uncontested scrums.

We saw Bertie releasing his back line more effectively and so utilise the speed merchants Benny, Jacob and Frankie out wide. Particular well done to Jacob for backing himself to beat his opposite number on the outside. The centres formed a strong partnership with Henry making ground with some robust running up the middle, while Louis tackled like a demon and kept the Monmouth express centre on the edge of the game and not in it enough to make a difference.

Our try scorers Laurence and Barney had read the game well to be in the right place at the right time. Laurence supporting an electric run down the left flank by the backs while Barney used his strength to drive over in a maul and secure the winning points at the end of the game

Positives to build on - that winning attitude, communicating in the game, backing yourself in one on one, the long present, applying sustained pressure by retaining the ball after a number of phases