Tense Local Derby Win

In a tense match where the lead changed hands 5 times, Oldfield belied their league position this season as they came close to pulling off a close win in this local derby match. At the end though, Avon showed enough resilience to clock up their 7th successive bonus point win. This cements their 3rd place in Somerset Counties 2 where they face a tough challenge next week from 2nd placed Chew Valley 2nds.

Avon started well as Ben May, on his 50th appearance, took clean line out ball to create the attacking maul from which Xander Hall-Davis forced his way over for the opening try. The ever-reliable Jonny Batchelor slotted the conversion.

Oldfield struck back to equalise with a well-taken try as full back Jack Davies chased down a clever kick along the touch line to score in the corner with fly half Charlie Shakespeare adding the extras.

With Avon suffering from a catalogue of handling errors, they struggled to put any decent phases of constructive rugby together. This played into Oldfield’s hands who gleefully capitalised on the Avon mistakes to take play deep into their visitors territory. Then Ali Lane pounced on another dropped pass inside the Avon 22 to stroll over for another converted try to take the lead.

Although Avon had the edge in the set scrums, their line out options were nullified by Oldfield’s jumpers Bertie Kennedy and Ben Lansdown and they continued to pounce on Avon’s constant handling mistakes which frustrated any concerted play. It was no surprise when Oldfield scored again after another period of pressure, this time prop Erifeoluwa Akinyemi finishing off a series of pick and drives to power over the try line with Shakespeare again converting.

Batchelor reduced the deficit on the stroke of half time, giving Avon a glimmer of light at 10 – 21 at the interval. The half time team talk seemed to stiffen Avon’s resolve as they slowly started to impose themselves, forcing a series of penalties deep inside the home 22. Eventually the black and ambers pack were rewarded for a succession of powerful scrum surges as emergency number 8 Dan Griffin burst away to add another converted try near the posts.

With the bit between their teeth, Avon suddenly started to string a few promising moves together with Jake Coates and Zak Harwood testing the home defence and Jonny Griffiths providing the glue in the loose exchanges. After a sustained attack down the right, fly half Rob Fitch suddenly launched a tantalising cross field kick to the opposite wing which Tai Harwood took cleanly to score in the corner.

A magnificent touchline conversion from Batchelor gave Avon the lead but Oldfield showed their qualities by again responding strongly to retake their advantage with two Shakespeare penalties. This forced Avon to dig deep as their pack launched another series of attacks to storm the home fortress and were rewarded when their man-of-the-match Matt Thresher, playing out of position on the flank, suddenly burst through midfield to score the decisive converted try under the posts.

Even then, the game wasn’t over as Oldfield besieged the Avon line inside the last 5 minutes with two forceful lineout drives in front of the large crowd but were repelled by a determined Avon defence led by replacement Ben Hurd and skipper Kane Book with the final scrum to close out the game.

As well as the 1st team match against Chew Valley at home next weekend, Hicks Field will also be hosting the Avon 2nds vs Bath University Jaegers game with all spectators very welcome.