Weekend ups and downs for Avon
The weekend started well for Avon as their second side enjoyed a comprehensive 45-0 win against Stothert & Pitts 2nd under the lights on Friday evening. But fortunes changed on Saturday afternoon as the first team suffered a chastening 59-14 defeat at the hands of a strong Weston-super-mare United.
Fielding an intriguing mixture of veterans, former first-teamers and youngsters, Avon 2nd produced a scintillating display down the slope in the first half. This led to tries at regular intervals for a 38-0 lead at the interval. Things were tougher in the second half up the slope and, with Stotherts tightening their defence, the black and ambers were only able to add one more try to their tally.
Scrum-half Ollie Flight bagged a hat-trick on his return from injury after three months out. A strong pack performance was rewarded with tries from Chaz Meddick and Scott Book whilst wingers Harry Harwood and Tim Wood also touched down. Rob Fitch slotted five conversions to complete the scoring.
The first team, weakened by injuries and unavailabilities, were always going to be up against it at Weston and their woes were heightened after their first team match at Launceston was called off due to Covid. This allowed Weston to field several first-teamers in their backs who ruthlessly exploited Avon’s vulnerabilities to run in nine tries throughout the afternoon.
Excellent Avon defence in the first quarter had restricted their hosts to only two penalties with Ian Burnell and Jonny Griffiths working tirelessly in the back row but, as Weston grew in confidence with a series of sweeping three-quarter moves, the tries started to flow as they opened up a 27-0 lead by halftime.
Avon were only able to develop intermittent threats with Ben May, Tom Boreham and lock forward Xander Davis, acting as an emergency centre, occasionally making inroads. But as soon as there was a mistake or turnover, the Seasiders launched fluent handling attacks to expose the defensive frailties by adding a further six tries to bolster their commanding scoreline.
Dan Griffin epitomised Avon’s commitment as he returned to the fray after having dislocated his elbow and the beleaguered visitors took some crumbs of comfort with two late tries, firstly from Iain Parris after a break from veteran scrumhalf Damo Sawyer and then from Josh Hiscott as a reward for a monumental performance up front. Jonny Batchelor converted both but Avon now need to focus on next week’s encounter away to Bristol Harlequins.
■ AVONVALE welcomed Dorchester to the Crown Field for the first time for their Southern Counties South game. Playing against the wind in the first half, Vale gave a good account of themselves. Two penalties to Dorchester and one to Vale looked like being the half-time score, but Vale tried running the ball out from their try-line and knocked on. From the resultant scrum, Dorchester scored and converted to give them a 13-3 lead.
With the wind behind them, Vale thought they could ease to victory but unfortunately it all went wrong. Vale knocked on from the kick-off giving Dorchester the ball. They used their big forwards to good effect against the wind and scored in the corner.
It went from bad to worse for Vale as Dorchester scored another try soon after. Nothing went right for Vale and everything they tried failed. Dorchester scored six tries in all and ran out 40-3 winners. Vale coach Dave George said: “Everything we tried went wrong and we did not get the rub of the green today. Our performance in the second half was poor but we have to draw a line under it and move on.”
Next week Vale are away at Combe Down.
■ ELSEWHERE, Keynsham secured a second successive victory in South West 1 West with a 13-6 win over an error-strewn Chew Valley, avenging their 28-25 defeat earlier in the season. Bottom side Corsham awarded Yeovil a home walkover in Southern Counties South, while Combe Down were beaten 22-19 at home to Devizes to suffer a double against their Wiltshire rivals.
Stothert & Pitt offered Hornets 2nd an away walkover in the Somerset Premier, while Oldfield Old Boys were beaten 27-17 at home to Wells, having beaten Wells 19-14 in the return fixture. Keynsham 2nd enjoyed a 14-0 whitewash at hosts Cheddar Valley in Somerset 1 for a third consecutive win against that opposition since 2020. Old Sulians claimed a 45-14 victory at home to Nailsea & Backwell 2nd to remain a point ahead of Keynsham in the table. Somerset 2 North bottom side Walcot 2nd suffered a 61-7 loss at Bristol Barbarians.
The derby in Dorset & Wilts 2 Central saw Bradford on Avon thrash visitors Bath Saracens 52-7 to remain eight points off leaders Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew. Combe Down 2nd suffered a 41-0 whitewash at home to second-place Amesbury. There was also a derby in Dorset & Wilts 2 North as bottom side Corsham 2nd beat fourthplace Colerne 27-7.