MONMOUTH recorded a crucial confidence- boosting win on Saturday over fellow-strugglers Oakdale, to offer renewed hope of avoiding relegation from Division Four East.

Helped by a weak Oakdale side arriving late without a full complement of replacements, Monmouth tore into their visitors from the off. First scrum half Morgan capitalised on a short penalty in the early stages, converted by Berry, followed by a further try out wide by Baker.

It was the first of three tries for the winger, who celebrated his return to first team action with strong charges down the left flank all afternoon.

Although Berry just failed with the second kick, Monmouth were already 12 points ahead inside the first 12 minutes.

Monmouth then eased back off the pedal temporarily, but Oakdale's defence soon showed its frailty again when right wing Williams was pulled back illegally for a penalty try when certain to score chasing a kicked ball.

Building on the commanding catching of re-starts by Powell, Monmouth continued to stretch the visitors' line.

Flanker Griffiths re-ceived a quick ball from the centre out to the right to dive over under the posts to make it a 26-0 lead.

Oakdale rallied and cam closest from a quick penalty, only to be denied by a try-saving tackle by new signing Lane in the centre and the Monmouth pack were forced to work hard despite the scoreline.

But normality returned just before the break when wing Williams outflanked the defence, kept his feet in touch and casually rounded near the posts to set up an easy conversion.

Monmouth started the second half as they had finished the first, pressurising Oakdale back to their line. A scrum lead to a drive and then a scrum penalty was taken - which the indefatigable number eight Seymour forced over the line.

Substitute Jeffs then belied his years with several pacey breaks; the first of which Lane followed up for another score, before another brace from Baker ended the rout.

But the tiring Oakdale pack finally drove over near the posts for a deserved seven points as reward for their tenacity throughout a hard fought contest. The emphatic results sees Monmouth gaining a much needed second win of the season - their first in nine games - prior to travelling to league leaders Garndiffaith next Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Club Committee has announced that, following on from the success of the England v Wales lunch, they will be organised another similar event for the Ireland v Wales match.