Batchelor’s bliss ahead of wedding
Avon earned local bragging rights with a 22-17 win at Oldfield’s Shaft Road to complete the double against their city neighbours. This reinforces their fourth place position in the Somerset Premier.
With the stormy conditions, it was a credit that both teams delivered an enthralling performance with the strong winds dictating the pattern of play in a typical game of two halves. Oldfield took an early lead with a penalty in front of the posts from Josh James but, despite enjoying the lion’s share of territory with the strong wind at their backs, they were constantly repelled by tenacious Avon defence, epitomised by Jonny Griffiths up front and Zak Harwood in midfield.
Playing into the gale, Avon sensibly kept the ball tight when they had possession and patiently worked the ball upfield using their powerful runners in Josh Hiscott, Xander Davis and man of the match Ian Burnell. Having reached the home 22, stand-in fly-half Ollie Flight sucked in the Oldfield defence before off-loading to supporting hooker Sam Book who charged over to touch down under the posts. Jonny Batchelor added the extras.
In a familiar failing, Avon didn’t deal cleanly with the restart allowing Oldfield to create the position for Zach Kennedy to burst through midfield to retake the lead with a try converted by James. After withstanding constant pressure for the rest of the half, Avon thought they had done enough after Davis stripped Oldfield’s ball carrier deep into the 22 only for Oldfield to regain possession with a turnover just afterwards.
The ball was swiftly moved wide and burly 18-year-old centre Finn Shakespeare added another converted try on the stroke of half-time. This gave the home side a 17-7 but Avon quickly added their second try. Veteran Damien Sawyer, acting as an emergency scrum-half, spotted space on the blind-side and exploited the gap to deliver a scoring pass to Iain Parris for his 17th try of the season.
Batchelor converted magnificently from the touch line in the swirling win to close the gap to three points.
It was now Oldfield’s turn to defend with number eight Jack Mineur leading a committed performance as Avon capitalised on the strong winds to keep play deep inside the home half. Avon’s powerful pack started to crank up the pressure with three strikes against the head, whilst Ben May and Kane Book secured good lineout possession to allow a series of driving mauls to develop.
From one such attack, Harwood made light of his ankle injury to cut a fantastic line to charge across for the decisive try to give Avon the lead. Although the home side threw everything into attack, there was now only going to be one winner as Avon brought on experienced duo Chaz Meddick and Ben Hurd to tighten up play.
It was no surprise when another series of forward drives led to a final penalty from Batchelor to put the result beyond doubt in his last game of the season before his wedding.
■ AVONVALE welcomed Swanage & Wareham to the Crown Field for the first time and, although struggling with injuries, gave a spirited display in very testing conditions. Swanage had first use of the gale and used it well, kicking for position. They scored two quick-fire tries to lead 10-0.
Vale worked hard to get back into the game and, after some great driving work by the forwards, prop Hayden Rogers emerged from under the pile of bodies.
Unfortunately Vale, thinking the hard work was done, gave away a soft try straight away. Vale continued with their game plan, keeping the ball on hand, and winger Will Andrews crossed in the corner to leave them 17-10 down at halftime.
With the wind at their backs, Vale started the second half strongly but their decision making was poor wrong choices were made at vital times. Vale blew two great try scoring chances to take the lead and Swanage used their big forwards to truck the ball up and their sharper backs created three more tries.
Vale did score a try at the end with Jack Butcombe touching down under the posts, centre Sam Fellows converting, to leave the final score at 34-17.
Vale spokesperson, ex-navy and Watsonian Hamish Wilkie, commented: “We had our chances today but we kept cutting back inside to where they were strong instead of moving the ball wide to run their big forwards around. Our decision making was poor and we need to learn quickly if we are to stay at this level.”
ELSEWHERE, Keynsham were narrowly beaten 10-5 at home to Devonport Services in South West 1 West. It’s a third consecutive loss to Services as Keynsham remain seventh in the table.
In Southern Counties South, Walcot reversed their earlier defeat to Swindon College Old Boys by winning 22-17 at home to close the gap to seventh-place Combe Down to a single point following their 20-0 defeat at home to second place Salisbury. Corsham managed 25 points but the bottom side were beaten 39-25 by visiting Dorchester to keep them bottom on minus one points.
Stothert & Pitt suffered a 22-7 defeat at home to Wells in the Somerset Premier to fall to a league double. That leaves them 11th and at the top of the bottom four which have been cut adrift following Stothert’s ten point deduction. Old Sulians were whitewashed 29-0 at home to leaders Old Redcliffians 2nd in Somerset 1.
Oldfield Old Boys 2nd were narrowly beaten 27-22 at Westonsuper-mare 3rd in Somerset 2N, ending Oldfield’s previous good run against their rivals. Bottom side Walcot 2nd lost 50-7 at second bottom Yatton 2nd to drop three points behind, with two games in hand.
Somerset 3 Norton leaders Keynsham 3rd were handed a home walkover by bottom side Chew Valley 3rd. There was a rather onesided derby in Dorset & Wilts 2 Central as Bradford on Avon thrashed Combe Down 2nd 70-10, adding to their 62-5 victory earlier in the season, to go level on points with third-place North Dorset 2nd. Combe are only a place behind Bradford but 27 points adrift.
Bath Saracens moved to within four points of Melksham 2nd following their 17-10 victory in Wiltshire to secure a league double. In Dorset & Wilts 2 North, Corsham 2nd offered Cricklade a home walkover, while Colerne lost 17-11 at second-place Devizes 2nd.