Avon 15 - Keynsham 10

Western Counties outfit Keynsham started as though they meant business but, once Avon weathered the opening spell, their powerful pack started to exert their dominance with a solid platform in the tight and a series of attacking driving mauls that pinned their opponents on the defence. With props Chris Mutlow and Kane Book shoring up the scrum and Scott Book and Ben Dilloway dominating the lineouts, Avon pressurised Keynsham into an early sin binning of their hooker for collapsing a maul and Des Bowden kicked the resulting penalty to open the scoring.

The visitors responded with a counter attack from deep but were guilty of kicking away possession and forced into turnovers by the scavenging Avon loose forwards led by Scott Book and Craig Rees and their unyielding midfield defence from Stuart Thompson and Damien Sawyer. From one such turnover on halfway by winger Ben Crane, Avon struck up the blindside with a huge relieving kick and their effervescent hooker Ben Hurd outpaced the covering defence to scoop up the ball for a try in the corner.

Although Avon were now seeking openings and missed two kickable penalties, Keynsham relieved the pressure with a close quarter counter attack off a defensive lineout but were again turned over and Avon's impressive 18 year old winger Zak Harwood bounced off despairing tackles with a "Maori sidestep" to close the half with Avon leading by 8 points to nil.

A huge Avon clearance kick just after half time was hauled back since the ball had been carried into their 22 and from the resulting lineout, Keynsham were awarded a penalty which Paul Edson converted off the post to narrow the gap.

This seemed to sting Avon into action as they once again started to control possession and territory with two strikes against the head and some rampaging charges in the loose from Jake Dixon to set up a lineout near the Keynsham line. With the ball firmly secured, Avon drove right then left before inspirational skipper Kai Harwood exploded over the line for the decisive try, converted by Bowden to open up a 15 points to 3 lead.

Further Avon pressure resulted in a second sin binning for Keynsham for stamping before Harwood was forced to leave the field with a serious looking knee injury, followed shortly afterwards by Sawyer, thus bringing the eager replacements into action. With the game deep into injury time, Keynsham summoned up one final effort and number 8 Ben Newman drove over for a consolation try, converted by Edson with the last kick of the match to spark the Avon celebrations.

Avon now face the might of Bath University in the final on the Rec next Wednesday 27th April.