Rugby Avonmouth ‘beaten by the better side’
BARTON Hill are off the mark in Western Counties North after pulling off a 23-17 win over Avonmouth at Barracks Lane.
It was one of those days for Mouth, where everything that could go wrong did go wrong, but head coach Dan Cox refused to make excuses and believes that the better side won on the day.
He said: “We had a few players missing, yes, but we had quality players replacing them, and I don’t think that was a factor in the outcome.
“We tried everything but nothing really came off for us, and Barts seemed to want it just that bit more on the day. They scored a couple of fantastic tries that we could do nothing about. Some times you just have to take your hat off to the opposition and admit you were beaten by the better side.”
Barton Hill, by contrast, executed their game-plan to the letter and produced a stubborn and defiant performance. Wing Joe Samsun and centre Jon Armstrong crossed for tries, while scrum-half Jack Steer chipped in with two conversions and three penalties for the Speedwell-based side.
James Foss and Josh Krupa, who captained Avonmouth for the first time, scored tries, with Andy Butler adding a penalty and conversion.
Elsewhere in the division, Winscombe won 31-7 at home to Gordano, Chipping Sodbury pulled off a 26-17 win over Old Bristolians at Failand, while Midsomer Norton were 46-19 victors over Clevedon. A depleted Bristol Saracens side were humbled 74-10 at Stroud. Sarries lost captain Will Harding after ten minutes, who normally operates at flanker but was forced to play wing. The visitors still ended up
with three back-rowers playing in the back-line. George Jackson and Simon Foot crossed the whitewash for Saracens.
Frampton Cotterell and Old Richians drew 20-20 in their Gloucester Premier fixture at Crossbow House. Whitehall went down 34-0 at Cheltenham North, while St Mary’s were beaten 27-25 at Cheltenham Saracens.
In Gloucester One, Old Colstonians got their campaign underway with a 48-12 win over North Bristol at Stapleton. Matt Leek’s men crossed for eight tries on their maiden outing of the season, with Matty Lewis, Issac Butler, Jack Churchill, Tim Farmer, Will Minchom, James Knight (2) and Chris Powell, all touching down for five-pointers and Louis Martin adding four conversions. St Brendan’s and Old Elizabethans also picked up wins on the road. Saints beat Dursley 21-17 and E’s thrashed Gloucester Old Boys 40-12.
In Gloucester Two, home advantage came to the fore with Bishopston edging past Southmead 34-23 on a 4G pitch. Kurt Atwell, Martyn Hawkes and kicker Rob Haddow all particularly impressed for Southmead.
BAC had a 32-13 win over Kingswood and Broad Plain triumphed 24-5 over Cotham Park at St John’s Lane.
In Somerset Premier, St Bernadette’s got off to a great start with a 48-26 win over Old Reds, Yatton lost 35-32 at home to Oldfield Old Boys and Imperial went down 30-29 at Wells. Bristol Harlequins hammered Old Sulians 68-12 at Valhalla in Somerset One, but both Bristol Barbarians and Bristol Telephones lost in Somerset Two North – Player-coach Neil Roberts and Rob Spreadbury went over for a depleted Phones side.