Avon Enjoy Away Day At SeaSide

Although Weston fielded a large pack, they had no answer to the flowing rugby which Avon produced with a variety of scintillating moves across their back line, triggered by player/coach Jake Coates.

Based on Avon’s mobile pack, coupled with their hard-hitting power runners up front, tries came at regular intervals during the first half. Livewire scrum half Kiddie Sheikh started the scoreboard ticking early on with the first try before Xander Hall-Davis powered over the line shortly after. Iain Parris then scorched through from the half way line for another try before Matt Thresher finished off a flowing move to add the bonus point try after the first quarter. With another incisive run from Zak Harwood, it wasn’t long before Avon added another through a Dan Cousineau pushover try.

Unfortunately Cousineau and fellow back row forward Rhys van den Handel were both forced to leave the action with injuries, just a week after they both completed the Bath half marathon in decent times begging the question is running really good for you!

Weston’s pick and drive tactics through their big forwards pressurised the Avon line and were they rewarded for their efforts when scrum half PJ Grimes forced his way over to touch down with Josh Cook adding the extras to reduce the deficit to 31-7 at half time.

Dan Griffin, who was imperious in the lineout and loose throughout, was yellow carded after a series of cumulative team penalties conceded by Avon which allowed the seasiders to enjoy the best spell either side of the interval. But once restored to a full complement, the floodgates opened as Avon scored another 6 tries with a host of mesmerising attacks featuring great support and strike lines. Hall-Davis and Thresher both completed doubles, whilst Jonny Batchelor scythed through from a clever move to touch down under the posts. He also slotted 7 conversions during the match to finish with a personal haul of 19 points.

Escher Le Duc was rewarded for another promising performance with a try when he started off and then finished off another attack. Meanwhile Iain Parris picked up the man-of-the-match award ahead of several worthy contenders when he completed his hat-trick by scoring another 2 tries in turning on the after burners to decimate the despairing home defence.

The only downside for Avon was the worrying injuries that are starting to take their toll which ended up with 2 backs showing their versatility by slotting in as emergency back row forwards. After 457 1st team games, prop Chris Mutlow is due for an operation on Monday to re-attach a damaged bicep whilst flanker Will Cheeseman is currently recuperating after an ACL operation. With no game scheduled on the date of the RWC final, the Avon squad are looking forward to a much-needed rest after their successful exertions of recent weeks before resuming on 4th November at home to St Bernadettes.