Excellent 26-13 Winning Start to New Campaign

The visitors, who had moved sideways across from Western Counties West last season, took an early lead with a penalty but this was immediately equalised as Rob Fitch opened his account for the new campaign. Although Avon struggled to get outside their half for the first quarter, their defence stood firm as they welcome back Zak Harwood in midfield after missing most of last season through injury.

Avon suddenly showed what they were capable of as a thunderous line out drive on the right was only thwarted just short of the try line. Not to be denied, Avon repeated the tactic on the left and as the Wellington defence disintegrated, hooker Ben Hurd peeled off to dive over for their opening try.

Fitch converted magnificently from the touch line but Hurd was unfortunately forced to leave the field as result of a gratuitous knee in the back in the act of scoring, being replaced by Sam Book who joined his two brothers in the home pack.

Shortly before half time, Wellington varied their attacking approach with an intelligent grubber kick that Avon failed to deal with effectively and levelled the scores with a converted try.

As the Avon pack started to turn the screw after the interval, Wellington's infringements were punished as Fitch slotted another two penalties to open up a 6 point lead, although another penalty for the visitors kept them in touch.

Man of the match, Scott Book, standing in for unavailable skipper Kai Harwood, rallied his side with an all-action performance as Avon increased their intensity to force 5 successive scrums close to the Wellington line. Eventually the referee lost his patience with the collapsed scrums and awarded a penalty try as a deserved reward for the Avon forward dominance where Jake Dixon and Chas Meddick were prominent.

With Fitch converting and adding another penalty, the result was settled although both sides engaged in a frenetic last 5 minutes as a series of attacks flowed end to end, leaving the players exhausted and the spectators breathless in an excellent game of rugby.