Monmouth keep National Schools Cup hopes alive

Monmouth School for Boys kept their dream alive in the National Schools Cup with a hard-fought third-round home triumph against rivals Bromsgrove.

Cheered on by a large crowd, the 1^st XV showed battling qualities against visiting Bromsgrove and will now host either Seaford or Berkhamsted in the regional final stage (last 16) of the competition.

Monmouth were keen to bounce back from a first defeat of the season in their previous outing, against Marlborough College, and started the derby on the front foot.

The hosts gained excellent early field position, without being able to cut through the Bromsgrove defence.

However, Monmouth retained the ball well for long spells and eventually broke the deadlock.

A powerful carry from Aidan Boshoff allowed captain Theo Mayell to crash over from close-range. Henry Hurle slotted the conversion to give Monmouth a 7-0 half-time advantage.

Bromsgrove, to their credit, pressed hard after the interval, grew in confidence and gradually gained the momentum.

Monmouth’s resistance was finally broken when Bromsgrove went over for a try and, soon afterwards, the visitors added a penalty to edge 8-7 ahead.

The home side needed a swift response and their impressive forward play, once again, proved crucial from a line-out 20 metres from the Bromsgrove line.

Monmouth set up a powerful diving maul and Freddy Harding rumbled over for their second try, which Hurle converted, to give the home side a 14-8 lead.

“The final 15 minutes was heart in mouth stuff, and we didn’t make it easy for ourselves,” admitted captain, Mayell.

“But our defence was valiant and we eventually won a turnover, which was kicked out of play, to seal a very hard-fought victory.”