Avon made a controlled start, dominating possession and territory within the first 10 minutes before a potential try-making pass inside the opposition 22 was intercepted by the home winger who sprinted the length of the pitch to open the scoring for Old Reds. This setback gave the hosts some confidence with their fly half controlling the game tactically to test the Avon defence.

As the game progressed, Avon again started to exert control through some powerful surges from their pack, allied to the promptings of half backs Stu Dilloway and Alex Gapper. They were rewarded after some incisive inter-passing amongst the forwards and backs created an opening for skipper Scott Book to touch down their opening try. This was coolly converted by Jonny Batchelor to give Avon the lead.

Avon again seized control and set up a promising attacking lineout just metres from the home line but Old Reds managed to clear with a speculative downfield kick. Two unkind bounces of the ball later and the beleaguered hosts dotted down their second try at the opposite end for an unlikely 10-7 lead. Although Avon camped inside their opponents 22 and forced a series of attacking scrums, they couldn’t make the vital break through before the interval.

The half time team talk from coach Kai Harwood had immediate results as Avon made an explosive start, recycling the ball through numerous phases before a half break from Sam Wykes got in behind the defence. From the resulting lineout drive, Xander Davies was held up just short of the line before Alex Gapper spotted a gap to power across for a try. This was again converted by Batchelor to regain the lead.

Although losing hooker Sam Book to an ankle injury which caused a reshuffle up front, another multi-phase play took Avon on the attack again and Chaz Meddick was rewarded for several thunderous drives as he burrowed across the line for Avon’s 3rd try. Now fully in the ascendancy, Avon went seeking the bonus point try but were guilty of trying to force the game too much when more patience would have had its rewards.

With Burnell sin-binned for killing the ball, Reds sensed an opportunity and closed the gap to 6 points with a straightforward penalty. With 5 minutes now remaining and the home side piling on attack after attack, it took heroic defence from Avon to hold them out before a final turnover allowed Avon to take the spoils in a hard fought start to their new season.

Afterwards Director of Rugby, Clive Book, observed that “opening day matches are always difficult to negotiate and this was a result that would have gone the other way last season but I’m proud of the commitment shown and the opportunities we created which now gives us something to build on”

Wearing their new style black and amber shirts sponsored by Dave Vowles Roofing, this result was a fitting memorial to Avon stalwart Fred Kyte who passed away during the summer and whose name is on the back of the shirts as a mark of respect from the players.