Avon convincing winners in second match
Avon registered a convincing 37-14 win against Bristol Harlequins in the Somerset Premier. This was based on a good all-round team performance but their back three were absolutely outstanding in a mesmerising display of attacking rugby.
Early pressure saw Avon take the lead with a penalty from Jonny Batchelor. Then a try blitz followed in the next 15 minutes as the pack supplied a feast of possession.
Ben May started things off with a try following a quickly taken tap penalty from Ollie Flight, before winger Iain Parris bamboozled the defence with a scintillating run to touch down near the posts. With the forwards earning the hard yards with a series of drives, Xander Davis was next on the scoresheet as he powered over the tryline.
Two Batchelor conversions opened up a 22-point lead inside the first quarter but Avon then struggled to maintain the same intensity and, as their concentration dipped, Quins started to make a comeback and were rewarded with a converted try shortly before half-time.
Avon made two tactical substitutions from their strong bench at the break, with Kiddie Sheikh and Ian Burntsnail entering the fray. An unplanned change soon followed as powerful centre Zak Harwood was forced to leave the field with a worrying knee injury, but Avon responded with a tremendous try in the corner from winger Tai Harwood who celebrated his debut with the man-of-the-match award afterwards. With Dan Cousineau setting a target up front, fluent midfield handling saw another dangerous counter-attack which resulted in Escher Le Duq escaping the despairing defence to dot down Avon’s fifth try.
To their credit, Quins came back strongly again with another converted try to reduce the deficit. But Avon had the last word as another searing run from Batchelor linked well with Tom Boreham before supporting prop Chris Mutlow added their final try. Uncannily, for the third time during the afternoon, the attempted conversion bounced back off the posts.
Afterwards, head coach Kai Harwood said: “There were definite improvements from last week but we still only played in patches. There’s still a lot more to come but I’m much happier with the effort today. I can honestly say that we showed the best back three performance in attack and defence that I’ve seen in an Avon team for 15 years.”
This Saturday Avon travel to take on Crewkerne in their first away match this season.
■ BATH SARACENS Friends, family, and teammates gathered at Lambridge for a memorial rugby match between Saracens and the “Gethin Bevan All Stars” from Wales.
This event has been held every few years in memory of student Gethin Bevan, who passed away in 2007 while studying at Bath University and playing for Claverton Down-based Bath Saracens.
A closely contested game, played in Mediterranean conditions, saw the All Stars run out winners by 17-5. The first half was dominated by two excellent defences with the All Stars finally opening the scoring just before the break.
They then increased their lead shortly after the restart, yet as the game moved into the latter stages, Sarries looked the fitter and, after scoring their first points, they dominated play in the final quarter. However despite all their efforts, Sarries couldn’t breach the All Stars’ excellent defence any further, and they were unable to add to their points tally. After the match there was a barbecue, the proceeds of which were added to the fundraiser for the event which has been set up by Gethin’s friends. The final sum raised, which is currently exceeding £2,000, is to be donated to the MIND charity.
■ ELSEWHERE, Keynsham were unable to follow up their opening day victory in South West 1 West after going down 42-10 at St Austell. Oldfield Old Boys were thrashed 31-7 at Hornets 2nd to register a second defeat in the Somerset Premier, while Stothert & Pitt edged out Weston-super-mare 2nd 26-22 to recover from their opening day defeat.