Avon 47 - Nailsea & Backwell 10

Avon showed their intentions from the outset with an immediate try from Ollie Flight after good approach work from Des Bowden, Jake Dixon and Stu Dilloway but were then restricted for the next half hour as Nailsea’s dogged defence and some handling errors in the tricky wind curtailed Avon’s ambition. Shortly before half time, Avon clicked into gear with two more converted tries, the first by Sam Rowlands from a powerful 5 metre scrum and the second from Chris Eames after a flowing move involving Dexter Robinson and Ross Atherton for a 21 nil interval lead.

The biggest roar of the afternoon came when ever-present prop Kane Book emerged from a pile of bodies following a lineout catch and drive to claim his first try of the season, with Book himself leading the cheering! With Chris Sawyer and Ben Dilloway securing a stream of possession, Avon capitalised with Chris Eames second try after a sharp blindside attack. Then came the icing on the cake as a flowing move from halfway, with forwards Scott Book and Chris Mutlow showing deft handling skills, opened up the stretched defence for the supporting Stu Dilloway to charge over the line for Avon’s sixth try.

With Rowlands slotting his sixth successful conversion to open up a 42 point lead, Avon started to relax and Nailsea took full advantage to score a well worked try to reduce the deficit. The resting Kai Harwood and Damien Sawyer then came off the bench and soon made their presence felt as Sawyer escaped down the wing for Avon’s final try before Nailsea’s hard-working efforts were rewarded with an excellent consolation try to close the game.

The final whistle sparked champagne celebrations as Avon finished 13 points clear of runners-up Wells to round off an incredibly successful season that has been a real credit to the whole squad, the coaches and the stalwarts behind the scenes.