Last Gasp Drop Goal Devestates Avon

As the game entered injury time, Avon were grimly hanging on to a one point lead with some last ditch defence when the Yatton centre suddenly sat back in the pocket and pulled the trigger on a sweetly struck drop goal to steal the win with the last move of the match, leaving the visitors ecstatic and Avon devastated.

It was clear from the outset that the boggy conditions were likely to result in a close low scoring game with mistakes determining the outcome and, after a scoreless first quarter with both teams bogged down in midfield, Yatton seized on a loose ball to hack downfield for the opening try.

They continued to pressurise with an aerial bombardment but fullback Stuart Dilloway was rock solid under the high ball as Avon started to build some continuity with their forward drives. One concerted attack led to a penalty from Rob Fitch to reduce the deficit and he followed this up with a second penalty shortly before half time for Avon to take a 6 points to 5 lead at the interval.

With the chance to play the second half attacking the firmer areas of the pitch, Avon restarted with some confidence but were the architects of their own downfall as their kicking game repeatedly let them down whilst their attempts to play fluid rugby on the muddy gluepot inside their own half led to inevitable breakdowns and turnovers.

This allowed Yatton to keep up the pressure and they regained the lead as they returned a loose kick with interest and exposed a hole in Avon’s defence to score their second try out wide.

Avon responded with a series of forward drives from Chris Mutlow and Jake Dixon which created the platform for an attacking scrum which was driven over the line for Scott Book to safely control the pushover try. This gave Avon a narrow 11 points to 10 lead which they defended for the next 15 minutes of normal play before the agonising conclusion in injury time.