Stand-in props put in storming display
In their first, and now only, match for a month, Avon again showed their credentials to earn another bonus point victory, 33-21 against third-placed Minehead.
Avon’s fifth successive victory sees them occupy sixth in Somerset Premier and now four points off third with two games in hand. The result was all the more praiseworthy as Avon were missing five props as Ben Hurd and Ian Burnell played in unfamiliar positions.
Both put in storming performances and coach Kai Harwood said: “I have never split the man-ofthe-match award before but it’s impossible to separate the valuable contribution that Ian and Ben made for Avon this afternoon to inspire an all-round outstanding team display.”
For much of the first quarter, Avon were under the cosh as a wellorganised Minehead dominated possession and territory. But Avon soaked up the pressure and two breaks from Escher Le Duq and Xander Davis lifted the siege and Hurd finished off a line-out drive to secure a first try.
With Scott Book and Dan Griffin dominating the lineouts, and the pack even stealing a couple of balls against the head, Avon began to exert more pressure and were rewarded with another try in the opposite corner as Ollie Flight squeezed home near the flag. Jonny Batchelor slotted both conversions from the touchline.
Minehead were restricted to a single penalty as Avon led 14-3 at half-time. Adam Hinchcliffe-walz joined the action for the injured Will Hayward and Avon’s lead was increased after a short penalty where Sam Book touched down for Batchelor to convert.
Minehead then launched a ferocious comeback with a series of attacks, but they were held at bay by some determined defence and had to settle for two penalties to help reduce the deficit.
A massive Avon scrum drive resulted in a penalty which was kicked to the corner and, from the lineout, Hurd touched down. Minehead came back once more though and scored a converted try from a quickly taken tap penalty.
As the game neared the finish, there was a sudden flurry of endto-end action. Avon firstly extended their lead from another forward surge which saw half the backs join in the drive across the line, leaving Davis to earn his 12th try of the season. Batchelor added the extras, but Minehead had the last word with a well-created overlap for a try in the corner.
■ COMBE DOWN welcomed Swanage & Wareham in a rearranged fixture from the end of February. Combe got off to the best start with a converted breakaway try under the posts on four minutes. A makeshift Swanage side retaliated with a penalty which led to a try from a lineout.
As Swanage tried to clear their lines from the restart, a Combe charge down resulted in a second converted try for the hosts and from their they took the initiative with three more tries to make it 31-7 at half-time. Combe continued in the same vein with another converted try two minutes into the second half before it became 43-7 five minutes later.
Swanage managed to halt the onslaught by keeping the ball and Combe failed to score again in the final 30 minutes.
■ AVONVALE welcomed Warminster as they sought revenge for the heavy defeat in the reverse fixture. Vale started strongly and after the forwards had driven near the line, prop Donald Wilkins crashed through four defenders to break the deadlock.
Moments later, winger Jack Burcombe was on the end of a fine move by the backs to cross out wide. After some great handling by the backs, full-back Charlie Holton drew his man and gave a welltimed pass to winger Will Andrews to race away under the posts. Flyhalf Steve Grant converted to add an earlier penalty as Avonvale mustered a 20-point lead after just 20 minutes.
Warminster grabbed a foothold, using their big forwards to score two tries from pick and drives, one converted, to make it 20-12 at halftime. In the second half, Avonvale’s fitness began to pay dividends and returning centre Joe Vowles had an outstanding game, creating holes in the defence.
He set up fellow centre Drew Retford for a try under the posts before again off-loading to rampaging prop Archie Dowman to score. Burcombe used his pace to go around the defence to score his second try before Wilkins matched the feat. Grant converted all of the tries for a 48-12 victory.
Coach Steve Phillips said: “We were struggling to get a team out today but the lads who came in played outstandingly for us, especially Joe Vowles.”
■ Elsewhere at the weekend, Keynsham managed a 28-13 victory over Cleve under the lights on Friday night in South West 1 West. In Southern Counties South as Combe Down ran riot against Swanage & Wareham, Corsham overcame bottom side North Dorset 33-22 to four points clear of second bottom Thatcham, while Walcot were beaten 35-5 by visiting leaders Frome.
With Avon winning in Somerset Prem, Stothert & Pitt closed to within ten points of Wells in their 33-21 success and Oldfield Old Boys thrashed struggling Tor 47-5. The local derby in Somerset 1 saw Old Sulians travel to Keynsham 2nd and win 43-17. The third team were also beaten, 24-5 by visiting Imperial 2nd in Somerset 3N, while leaders Stothert & Pitt 2nd overcame bottom side Winscombe 3rd 29-12.
While Dorset & Wilts 1N leaders
Avonvale were winning again, bottom side Bradford-on-avon were whitewashed 58-0 by Marlborough 2nd. In Dorset & Wilts 3N, leaders Bath Saracens were awarded an away walkover against Minety 2nd. ■ FOLLOWING the government’s advice, the RFU has taken the decision to suspend all rugby from March 17 until April 14 at the earliest, subject to review. The RFU has said it will continue to review and monitor government advice and will provide detailed updates on the impact to the season in the coming weeks.
It has also been announced that the next Bath Combination meeting which was due to take place on March 26 has also been cancelled.