A Semi Final loss shouldn't detract from an excellent season

Turning the league formbook upside down, Oldfield were sharper throughout and fully deserved their victory. They now go on to play against Corsham in the final on the Rec on Wednesday 8th March.

Avon threatened early on with a sniping run from Kiddie Sheikh and some lengthy attacking kicks from Jonny Batchelor but Oldfield dealt well with the pressure and started to look dangerous when moving the ball. They then took the lead with a penalty from Charlie Shakespeare.

Although Avon had the edge in the set scrums, their lineout misfired and they were also second best in the loose play, unable to secure enough possession to build any continuity. Meanwhile Oldfield’s tactics were spot on to keep the game away from Avon’s powerful pack and to shut down their ball carriers at source.

After winger Iain Parris was taken to hospital with a dislocated shoulder and Xander Hall-Davis was yellow carded for a late no-arms tackle, Oldfield capitalised to create an overlap for Ewan Mitchell to score the opening try.

A series of powerful forward drives brought Avon close to the line and, after conceding 3 successive penalties to halt the momentum, Oldfield were penalised with a penalty try and suffered a yellow card for collapsing the driving maul in sight of the try line.

This left the local derby intriguingly poised at 8 – 7 at half time before the decisive moment occurred 10 minutes into the second half. After building pressure, Oldfield exploited a couple of missed tackles in midfield to allow their player of the year Ned Newman to score a converted try near the posts.

Avon responded strongly but were constantly repelled by determined tackling to close down their powerful runners. A penalty from Shakespeare gave Oldfield some breathing space before veteran Damien Sawyer was sent to the sin bin for an upright tackle. Avon’s man-of-the-match Chris Mutlow was replaced after his 459th 1st team appearance allowing Chaz Meddick to make a welcome appearance off the bench.

Avon made a strong finish but were again frustrated by excellent Oldfield defence, although the home side also conceded another yellow card under the pressure. Eventually replacement Ben Hurd stole a strike against the head from an attacking scrum to allow Rob Fitch to finally convert their pressure into points with a try. Unfortunately it was too little too late and Oldfield were able to celebrate the win at their Annual Dinner afterwards.

Meanwhile Avon’s head coach Kai Harwood summed up Avon’s disappointment after such a successful league campaign, saying “I’ve asked the players to give so much in tough matches to finish 3rd in the league and this eventually proved to be a game too far at the end of a long season but full credit to Oldfield on their win.”