15th Win Sees Avon Up to 2nd in Table

The conditions were ripe for open running rugby and Avon responded in style with a scintillating display of dextrous handling and support play to rack up 12 tries.

The writing was on the wall as Bosh Harding-Wyatt surged over for the opening try after a powerful break from Will Hayward and this was quickly followed by their second score as winger Glen Atherton produced a lovely side step to flummox the intended tackles.

As the Avon pack dominated possession with their powerful runners Josh Hiscoff, Xander Davis and Kane Book providing a target across the gain line, sweeping attacking moves followed as they spread the ball wide to stretch the visitors defence. This opened up space which rangy fly half Stuart Dilloway exploited to the full with a hat-trick of tries in a man-of-the-match performance. This left the visitors reeling but, to their credit, they opened their account with a well-taken try before Atherton’s dancing feet brought his second try just before half time.

Staring down the barrel at 36-5 adrift, Nailsea/Backwell enjoyed their best spell of the match after the interval but came unstuck against Avon’s miserly defence. Soon the first half pattern resumed as Avon launched a series of breath taking attacks with incisive lines of running which set up Dan Griffin for their next try. As Avon unloaded their powerful bench, Chaz Meddick joined the action and soon scored a try from a well-worked lineout drive before adding his second after a clever offload from fellow replacement Ian Burnell.

An interception gifted the visitors a welcome try but they then contributed to their own downfall as their 2nd row forward was red-carded for a head-butt which sparked a mass brawl. Once order was restored, Avon continued their try-scoring blitz with another three tries inside the last 5 minutes as the visitors tiring defence disintegrated in the face of wave after wave of Avon attacks. Chris Mutlow was rewarded for several sparkling runs with his try, then Jonny Batchelor sprinted through for another try to add to his 8 conversions in a 21 point personal haul. But the last word went to arch finisher Ben Hurd who came off the bench to touch down their final try in the corner.