Avon snatch defeat from jaws of victory

With a 12 point lead and less than 10 minutes remaining, Avon seemed to have the result sewn up but, instead of closing the match down, showed a lack of control to allow their visitors to score 2 converted tries to steal the win. Admittedly, Avon were missing a couple of experienced players with Kai Harwood and Scott Book both injured and were reduced to 13 men towards the end with Ian Burnell and Stuart Dilloway both in the sin bin but should still have secured the win.

Earlier, the first quarter was nip and tuck as both sides tested each other out, with Rob Fitch slotting an early penalty which was cancelled out by the visitors fly half. As the Avon pack started to gain an edge with Jake Dixon, Ben Dilloway and Chaz Meddick to the fore, several close quarter attacks were only repelled by committed defence. Eventually, after 4 successive scrums close to the line, Ollie Flight dived through the mass of bodies to touch down the opening try for an 8-3 half time lead.

As a hailstorm swept across the pitch, conditions worsened and Avon needed to make 3 replacements for head injuries to Bradley Bray, Ollie Flight and Nick Tribe as a result of some over-zealous Chosen Hill tackling. Despite the greasy ball, Avon continued to threaten out wide as Fitch, Ross Atherton and Damien Sawyer all made inroads before Flight returned to the field and made a blindside break for his second try, converted by Fitch.

With a 15-3 lead and youngster Adam Hinchliff-Walsh making a useful cameo performance off the bench, Avon seemed to be quite comfortable as they launched a surging lineout drive but, instead of keeping play tight, a midfield handling error was pounced upon by Chosen Hill to score a converted try to reduce the deficit to a single score.

The visitors then took advantage of Avon's disorganisation after the yellow cards and added a second converted try from a lineout drive to take the lead going into injury time. The drama continued as Avon attacked from the restart, forcing a penalty with the last kick of the match, only for Fitch to draw the ball agonisingly just wide of the posts.

Next week, Avon travel to league leaders Coney Hill.