Avon Crash to Heavy Defeat at Matson
Avon lost heavily at Matson yet strangely much of the game was evenly contested apart from two 10 minute spells at the end of each half during which Avon twice conceded 3 tries with a lack of concentration and some lacklustre tackling.
The result leaves Avon in 10th position in Western Counties, just above the danger zone, and were fortunate that the teams below them also failed to register wins to capitalise on their downfall.
On a beautiful day for running rugby, both teams attacked well with the ball in hand but, after half an hour’s play, there was only a solitary penalty on the scoreboard with Avon holding a narrow lead from the accurate boot of Rob Fitch. Matson suddenly increased their intensity in the next 10 minutes and worked the ball downfield from a quickly taken drop out to score a simple try with a dummy under the posts. They shortly followed this with a second try from a lineout catch and drive and then added a third from the restart after missed tackles opened a gap through the defence.
Although Fitch added another penalty with the last play of the half, Avon found themselves 19 points to 6 adrift at the interval and knew that they needed to score next to get back into the match. With this target, they enjoyed a good opening spell with Kai Harwood driving his pack forward to gain an edge in the set pieces, allowing threatening runs from Stuart Dilloway, Dexter Robinson and Zak Harwood to test the home defence.
Then with Avon expecting Matson to take a shot at the posts from a penalty award, a quickly taken tap and go paid dividends with a bonus point try in the corner. Avon then enjoyed their best spell as they started to introduce more fluency in their attacks and a powerful run from Jake Dixon popped the ball up for fellow lock forward Ben Dilloway to touch down the try.
With the last ten minutes approaching and facing a 13 point deficit, Avon sought a way back but were undone by the pace of the Matson wingers who exposed some more woeful tackling to add another two converted tries. To add insult to injury time, Matson were awarded a debateable penalty try from the last move of the match to clinch a comprehensive win.
Next Saturday, Avon entertain 4th placed North Bristol at Hicks Field.
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