Avon 62 – Taunton 2nds 10

Chris Eames took the plaudits with 4 tries inside the first half in an outstanding personal performance but the whole team deserved credit for an all-round display of attacking rugby which took their points total past the 500 marker and cemented their position at the top of Somerset Premier.

Eames opened the scoring after only 5 minutes as he fastened onto a deft cross field kick from Des Bowden and added his second shortly afterwards after a midfield break from Ben Dilloway and a flowing handling movement along the back line. Taunton looked dangerous on the counter-attack and reduced the deficit with an unconverted try after good support work from well inside their own half.

This setback only served to spur Avon to greater heights as firstly powerhouse Jake Dixon stormed over after a lineout drive, then Eames completed his hat-trick by collecting a chip ahead from Ollie Flight. With the powerful Avon pack now dominating proceedings, skipper Kai Harwood charged over the try line from a scrum surge and then Sam Rowlands launched an audacious attack from his own 22 before sending Eames away down the touchline for his 4th try. Rowlands converted 5 of these 6 tries for Avon to post a halt time score of 40 points to 5.

Rowlands continued the scoring spree from the restart after some intricate handling opened up the way to the try line but Taunton immediately struck back again with a reminder of the danger they posed on the counter attack as good support and inter-passing created the breakthrough for their second try.

The next 20 minutes remained scoreless as both sides probed for an opening before Avon again sprung into life with 3 further tries. Dixon added his second after a storming burst from recycled possession, then Ben Crane finished off another fluent attack with a try out wide. Des Bowden had the last word with the final try as he outpaced the defence with Rowlands slotting the final conversion.

Avon are at home to Tor next Saturday.