Yet, after a thrilling match played on a rock hard pitch in front of a large home crowd, Avon were left to rue a couple of missed opportunities and unfortunate game management in the last 5 minutes which let the deserved win escape them.

Playing up the slope against the wind, Avon made a wonderful start as their imposing pack made several forceful drives up the right before recycled ball was swiftly transferred across field for full back Jonny Batchelor to show speed and strength to scorch up the left touchline before touching down in the corner for their opening try. His conversion attempt bounced back off the posts, insignificant perhaps at the time but ultimately crucial as the game unfolded.

Avon followed this up with their second try to open up a 12 point lead as solid scrum ball on half way saw number 8 Dan Cousineau launch an attack up the blindside before releasing emergency scrum half Jake Coates. A quick burst of pace attracted the defence and winger Iain Parrris danced inside past 3 despairing tacklers to score under the posts. Batchelor added the extras.

This stung Yatton into action as they started to dominate possession and territory using the elements wisely to sustain pressure inside the visitors 22. Immense Avon defence repelled their attacks and, after several successive penalties were awarded, they eventually took the points to open their account. Eventually further repeated infringements saw Avon yellow carded and Yatton immediately seized their opportunity to stretch the defence wide and exploit their extra man for a converted try.

With half time approaching and Avon manfully defending a 12 – 10 lead, a quick tap penalty allowed Yatton to force their way over the line for another converted try to take the lead with the last move of the half.

With the roles reversed after the interval, it was Avon’s turn to build pressure down the slope. Penalties were forced and the subsequent line out drives forced Yatton into desperate defence mode. However they had no answer as man-of-the-match Will Hayward carved a gap as wide as the Cheddar Gorge to feed Coates who was hauled down just before the line before the supporting Dan Griffin was rewarded for an industrious afternoon with a deserved try, again converted by Batchelor.

Avon were now totally on top and a sweeping threequarter move only fell short with a fumble on the wing with the try line beckoning. Then Avon had a try disallowed as their two lock forwards interchanged passes inside the home 22. Another Avon try was ruled out after an interception from debutant Josh Banks. Eventually Avon’s ascendancy was rewarded as a huge tackle from Josh Hiscott saw turnover ball moved to Cousineau to power across the line for their 4th bonus point try.

With a 24 – 17 Avon lead, Yatton threw everything into attack and added a try to reduce the deficit to 2 points after a quickly taken tap penalty from their elusive scrum half with 5 minutes left on the clock. Unfortunately from Avon’s perspective, they failed to execute a successful exit from just outside their own 22 and accentuated the error by then conceding a penalty which Yatton gleefully stroked through the posts to secure an unlikely win.

Next week Avon are away again as they travel to Glastonbury to take on Tor.