Avon beat Keynsham 22 - 14

Missing 6 regulars, Avon took time to settle after a poor start as early Keynsham pressure saw an attempted penalty bounce back from the posts but Avon responded strongly as their scrum started to impose themselves on the game and missed two try scoring opportunities at the other end of the field. Keynsham then took the lead with a well worked wrap-around move in midfield which sucked in the defence for their right winger to score a converted try out wide.

As Ian Burnell and Alex Morris settled in well to a reshaped pack, Avon levelled the scores as they recycled good possession through the phases before prop Chris Mutlow escaped inside the home 22 for an excellent individual score near the posts for Zak Harwood to add the extras. With Damian Sawyer filling in well in the unfamiliar fly half position, they then quickly followed this up as veteran winger Ian Northcott injected pace into a blind side attack for hooker Ben Hurd to storm over in the corner for a 12 – 7 half time lead.

From the restart, Keynsham showed their attacking potential as they spread first phase lineout ball wide and then backed up on the inside for their flyhalf to score under the posts before slotting the easy conversion to retake the lead. They were guilty of kicking away too much possession however which suited Avon’s game plan and, with man of the match Ollie Flight pulling the strings from scrum half, Avon’s pack started to dominate possession and territory in the last quarter.

Constant pressure on the home defence led to Avon regaining the lead after a series of forward drives as Ben Hurd used an American Football ploy to take the aerial route over a pile of bodies to dot the ball down over the try line. Then, as injury time was being played out, Avon’s pack continually recycled the ball with a succession of pick and drives which eventually saw Ben Dilloway power across for the fourth decisive try.

Avon entertain Matson next week at Hicks Field.