Rugby Chew beat Avonmouth to strengthen their promotion push
CHEW Valley’s push for promotion is gathering momentum after coming through their latest Western Counties North challenge at Avonmouth, winning a 92-point thriller 51-41 at Barracks Lane.
Midsomer Norton top the table on 69 points after piping Gordano 35-34, with Chew tucked in behind them on 66 points. After suffering back-to-back defeats and conceding more than 90 points in their last two outings, Avonmouth’s target of achieving a top-two finish is looking increasingly unlikely, as they sit in sixth place, 20 points adrift of the leaders.
Again, Chew Valley’s Tom Bryan was the star of the show. The talented full-back amassed 31 points, coming from four tries, four conversions and a penalty. Dan Garton, Harry Stride, Reece Carter (2) also crossed the whitewash for the visitors.
Avonmouth skipper Kei Berg, Brandon Pettit (3), Mike Gaston, Oli Scrivin and debutante Billy Simms all touched down for Mouth, while scrum-half Tim Walker added three conversions.
After a shaky start to their campaign, Old Bristolians are finding their feet after their third straight win, a 32-20 triumph over Clevedon at Failand. Clevedon had the better of the first-half, but B’s came storming back after the break to clinch the points. The visitors opened a 10-0 lead, thanks to a try from Toby Ford and a conversion and penalty from Jordan Mein. But John Biggins and the fit-again Simon Hunt touched down for the home side. Roger Davies converted both tries and added a penalty to make it 17-10 at the turnaround.
Owen Biggins went over for a converted try and Mein and Davies exchanged penalties to make it 20-20, but the home side found a little extra, with Andy Green and John Whitman adding further tries for B’s - one of which was converted by Davies.
Barton Hill made it two wins in a row with a 29-5 victory over basement battlers Cheltenham at Duncombe Lane. John Armstrong, Joe Sansum, Joe Dorrington, Nick Coe and Nick Yaisoumi grabbed tries for Barts. Chipping Sodbury lost 30-27 at Stroud.
Bristol Saracens bounced back from their 46-45 defeat at Berry Hill with an emphatic 70-15 victory over Widden Old Boys at Station Road. Sarries remain in fourth place but are coming into form at just the right time and must fancy their chances of climbing the table and mounting a serious promotion challenge following this result. Will Harding’s men crossed for 12 tries during their biggest Gloucester Premier win of the season.
The home side produced a full 80-minute performance, and led 36-10 at the break, thanks to touchdowns from Ricky Haddow, Jimmy Burnford, debutante Ben Heasman and a brace from Ian Werrett - Jon Fox clipped over three conversions. Sarries unleashed David ‘Didz’ Wright from the bench in the second-half, and he duly scored a superb hat-trick of tries. Stu McDonald, Will Harding and Adam Rainey completed the scoring for the home side.
Frampton Cotterell moved into second place after their 28-22 victory over Whitehall at School Road. St Mary’s are still in a relegation dog fight despite beating bottom side Gloucester Old Boys 27-18 away from home. Marcus Jenkins’ side, who narrowly missed out on promotion two seasons ago, continue to battle to sustain their level eight status. Saints bagged a valuable try bonus point thanks to touchdowns from Callum Holway, Jordan Sheppard, Chris Tait and Will Redwood - Holway added seven points from the kicking tee.
In Somerset Premier, Yatton crossed for 11 tries during their 77-24 victory over Hornets sec- onds. Jack Edwards booted all of his attempts at goal and scored two tries to finish with a 32-point tally. Mitch Wante led the way with four tries, with Ed Ryder and Lloyd Richardson also dabbing down for doubles. Captain Ollie Hardwidge claimed a five-pointer for Yatton.
Elsewhere in the division, Imperial beat Minehead Barbarians 12-7 away from home, St Bernadette’s lost 26-22 at home to Weston seconds, Nailsea & Backwell were 24-14 winners at Oldfield Old Boys and Old Reds seconds lost 29-17 at Bath-based Avon.
In Gloucester One, Southmead remain rooted to the foot of the table following a 38-0 defeat at fellow struggles Brockworth. Old Colstonians lost 21-8 at home to Old Cryptians, while North Bristol moved up to ninth in the table after seeing off local rivals Old Elizabethans 53-17 at Oaklands.
In Gloucester Two South BAC were 35-17 winners at United Bristol Hospitals.
Bristol Telephones maintained their place at the top of the Somerset Two North table on points difference ahead of Midsomer Norton seconds after seeing off Yatton seconds 34-7.
Father-and-son duo Jason and Shaun Hobbs crossed, as did brothers Ryan and Ross House. Dave Button and Kiel Skidmore also touched down for Phones.