Another Close But Deserved Win

Welcoming back Scott Book, Jake Dixon and Ross Atherton, Avon had a more balanced look to their team but found Saracens difficult opponents to break down in the blustery conditions. In fact, the visitors enjoyed the lion's share of possession early on and missed three penalty attempts before eventually taking the lead with a successful kick just before half time after a sniping run from their dangerous scrum half.

Avon were playing in fits and starts and, although looking comfortable with the ball in hand, conceded a host of penalties at the breakdown which prevented any sustained fluidity in attack despite some promising threats from Damien Sawyer and Stuart Dilloway.

A reappraisal of tactics at half time from coach Clive Book brought its rewards after the interval as Avon started to play with more cohesion and reduced their penalty count. Good inter passing between the forwards and backs exerted pressure on the Sarries defence and eventually saw their flanker yellow carded after several late tackles.

Avon exploited their numerical advantage with a powerful surge from the pack which resulted in Kai Harwood touching down his 10th try of the season, converted by Rob Fitch. Shortly afterwards, Avon drove a lineout which sucked in the visitors defence near the left touchline before Fitch launched a massive cross field kick to the opposite corner where winger Dan Griffin plucked the ball out of the air to score out wide.

When Fitch added a penalty after a dangerous tackle for a 15-3 lead entering the last quarter, Avon seemed to relax but Saracens made them pay for some ineffectual tackling with a sweeping length of the field counter attack for a try under the posts to close the deficit and earn a losing bonus point.

Avon 2nds consolidated their position at the top of Somerset 3 North with a resounding 40 points to nil win against Walcot 3rds. The 8 tries were shared between Dan Mutlow (2), Matt Thresher (2), Bradley Bray (2), Harry Harwood and Ian Monachino-Ayres. Aaron Sawyer added no conversions!