Minehead 14 - Avon 32

On this occasion, however, Avon arrived early and settled into their stride from the outset to achieve another bonus point victory that protected their lead at the top of the table before the vital game against Wells.

The early stages were fast and open and, in reality, too frantic as Avon tried to force the pace, whilst Minehead defended stoutly to constrain their attacks until skipper Kai Harwood showed the way as he controlled the ball after a clean lineout catch and drive to power over for the opening try, converted by Sam Rowlands. As Avon increased the intensity, the Barbarians were forced into conceding penalties and Rowlands gratefully accepted another two scoring chances with successful long range kicks.

Avon extended their lead shortly before half time as energetic flanker Dexter Robinson burst through onto a spilled home attack and hacked the ball forward from the halfway line in a foot race to the posts. Just as he dribbled ahead again and was poised to dive across the line, he was blatantly obstructed and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.

With Rowlands slotting the easy kick, Avon were well positioned at 20 points to nil ahead at the interval but then suffered a bizarre blow as Harwood inexplicably injured his knee at half time and was unable to resume. With versatile centre Stuart Thompson coming off the bench to relive his early days in the back row, Avon settled back into their routine and, after a flowing move, Des Bowden switched play back to the blindside to scythe through for his 30th try of the season, again converted by Rowlands.

As Avon sought the fourth try to secure the bonus point, they probably entered the best spell of the game as they constantly recycled the ball amongst the pack and probed for openings in the backs. Their endeavour was rewarded as ever-improving centre Ross Atherton cut a great line to break the defence and force his way over the line for a well-deserved try.

Having achieved the decisive score with a 32 point lead, Avon seemed to take their foot off the pedal with one eye on their vital top of the table clash with Wells on Tuesday. Minehead sensed their opportunity and consolidated a period of pressure with a series of forward drives to score a try through Beppe Lewis, converted by Josh Hurley. Finally as the clock wound down to the final minutes, the hosts added their second try with an interception by Daniel Richards to sprint through unopposed near the posts for Hurley to again add the extras.

Avon play their third game inside a week as they take on perennial rivals Wells on Tuesday 17th April in a match that will determine the destination of the league title.