Avon Teams Both Win Well Against Keynsham

Keynsham started strongly in the first 10 minutes and could have scored two early tries apart from some inspired Avon defence, led by the indefatigable Ian Burnell who got through a prodigious amount of tackling and ferreting for the ball on the ground.

After the visitors' centre was sin-binned for stamping, Avon capitalised with a flowing three quarter move to Nick Tribe on the wing who popped the ball up to rampaging prop forward Chris Mutlow to surprise the defence with a sprint up the touchline for the opening try in the corner. Within 5 minutes, Avon doubled their lead as they worked play back upfield for powerful lock Jake Dixon to surge over the try line from a well-executed lineout drive.

Although Chaz Meddick was forced to leave the pitch with a back spasm, Avon quickly readjusted and threatened again as Damien Sawyer attacked from deep before releasing James Leeming on a mazy run which Keynsham just snuffed out. The visitors always looked dangerous though and were rewarded from a powerful burst off a wheeled scrum which sucked in the Avon defence to open up a midfield gap for a try near the posts.

Protecting a 10-5 half time lead, Avon sensed that the next score could prove vital and fly half Rob Fitch duly obliged with a neat drop goal to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Fitch also managed the game well by keeping Keynsham pinned deep inside their own territory with a series of raking kicks. Then, from a defensive lineout, Scott Book leapt high like a salmon to steal the ball which was swiftly moved along the backs for centre Stu Dilloway to burst through for the try, converted by Fitch.

With their tails up, Avon increased the pressure to force Keynsham on the defensive with a delicate chip to the corner from Ben Hurd. The resulting lineout drive was only halted illegally by Keynsham and another two close range attacks were thwarted inches from the line by desperate defence. Then, with the Avon pack marching relentlessly forward, the referee had no alternative but to award a penalty try as the Keynsham scrum splintered on the try line for the bonus point score.

With a 27-5 lead, Avon relaxed slightly and Keynsham responded strongly to move the ball quickly wide from a short penalty to reduce the deficit with a try in the corner. This stung Avon into action and, after prop Kane Book surprised everyone with a smoothly taken lineout jump, Ross Atherton cut a great line through midfield to score the final try, again converted by Fitch.

Avon 2nds defeated Keynsham 4ths by 57-12 in Somerset 3 North with 9 tries shared between Josh Harding-Wyatt (2), Charlie Harland (2), Stuart Thompson, Bradley Bray, Sam Book, Simon Roe and Alex Gapper. John Gould added 6 conversions to complete the scoring.

Next week, with a break from league action, Avon 2nds are hosting a round-robin informal tournament with guest sides from Combe Down, Walcot and Whitehall before watching the England v Scotland international, followed by a sausage and cider party and beer-pong competition in the clubhouse. All supporters welcome.