Avon bounce back with bonus point
Avon bounced back from last week’s reverse with a comprehensive 33-17 bonus point win over Imperial. This lifts them up to fifth in Somerset Premier and sets up an intriguing away match with sixth-placed Weston-super-mare on Saturday.
It was a perfect start for the black and ambers as an early attack set up a powerful maul for flanker Ian Burnell to burst over the try line, with Jonny Batchelor slotting the conversion. Yet Imperial soon hit back in their typical style with a series of driving charges which ultimately saw Jack Smart touch down for full-back Conor Sheehan to add the extras to level the scores.
Avon were on top for the next quarter, marshalled by veteran Damo Sawyer at scrum-half, but were repelled by excellent defence. The visitors then broke the deadlock to take the lead with a penalty after another set of successive forward drives.
The clash of styles continued as Avon attempted to spread the ball through their dangerous backs, but couldn’t make the vital breakthrough until man of the match Zak Harwood surged through midfield before delivering a perfectly timed pass for winger Iain Parris to touch down in the corner, giving Avon a 12-10 half-time lead.
The decisive moment came ten minutes into the second half as Avon’s dangerous fly-half Tom Boreham sold a dummy on the half-way line before sidestepping and sprinting 50 metres to score an outstanding try under the posts. This gave Avon the cushion, but it wasn’t plain sailing as Imps continued to deliver a physical and abrasive performance.
Neither side’s ambitions to build momentum were helped by a stopstart performance where a stream of penalties interrupted the pattern of play, with Avon conceding 14 penalties and their visitors giving away 16, which left continuity and multi-phases sadly lacking.
Avon adapted their tactics accordingly and, after Matt Thresher produced a try-saving tackle on their own line, worked their way upfield where a cleverly constructed lineout drive saw Xander Davis emerge from the pile of bodies for their bonus point try.
Unleashing a powerful bench in Ben May, Tai Harwood and Jonny Griffiths, Avon started to exert their dominance and repeated their forward drives to set up the position for Davis to power over for his seventh try of the season. With Batchelor adding three conversions, Avon established a comfortable winning lead although the visitors did score a late consolation try through Ricky Jones.
Tomorrow night, Avon 2nd play their Stothert & Pitt counterparts under the lights at Corston where all spectators are welcome.
■ WALCATS’ girls rugby sides were in action at the weekend with the under-13s and under-15s taking on Trowbridge, whilst the under-18s visited Winscombe. A cracking game of rugby saw the Walcats go down 38-17 to Winscombe, but they battled right to the final whistle in a superb, evenly matched contest in which the visitors were unlucky not to finish closer.
As well as pulling on a Walcats jersey this weekend, Lottie and Edith both played for Bristol Bears Centre of Excellence on Saturday at Sixways Stadium, the home of Premiership side Worcester Warriors.
A Frome RFC spokesperson said: “It’s brilliant to see former Frome RFC mini and junior player Edith on Saturday playing for the Bristol Bears. We are all super proud of her.”
■ ELSEWHERE, Keynsham secured their first victory of 2022, 23-9, at bottom side Bridgwater & Albion in South West One West. It secured a league double over their hosts following the 25-20 win in October as they sit seventh.
The derby in Southern Counties South saw Combe Down secure a 15-0 whitewash at bottom side Corsham in a much lower scoring affair than the 42-19 Down victory in the reverse fixture. Third-bottom Avonvale offered Devizes a home walkover, while Walcot were beaten 32-17 at second-place Salisbury. Harry Williams and James Hillier were among the Walcot tryscorers, while Jonah Edwards added one conversion.
Oldfield Old Boys secured a double against third-bottom Tor in the Somerset Premier. After beating them 24-15 at home, Oldfield won 25-17 away to remain fourth and three points ahead of Avon. Second bottom Stothert & Pitt put on a better showing than their 28-7 loss at St Bernadettes Old Boys, were beaten 38-27 at home as they continue to look for a first win of 2022.
Old Sulians narrowly edged out hosts Morganians 27-25 in Somerset One, a far cry from their 97-0 demolition job earlier in the season. The win does keep them fifth and now a point behind Keynsham 2nd who didn’t play at the weekend. Oldfield Old Boys 2nd were awarded a home walkover by Yatton 2nd in Somerset Two North.
Bradford on Avon enjoyed a 55-31 victory at second-bottom Salisbury 3rd in Dorset & Wilts Two Central. Third-bottom Bath Saracens lost 52-12 at Trowbridge 3rd as they continue to struggle against those opponents.