Bonus Point Win Avenges Early Season Defeat

With their 1st pitch waterlogged, the match was switched to the 2nd pitch and, although conditions were heavy underfoot and blustery from the howling wind, a decent game of rugby followed.

Imperial threatened during the first ten minutes with their large pack making inroads but once Avon took the lead, they never looked back with an excellent half hour to score 5 tries before half time. Their first score came after clean line out ball from Dan Griffin was moved off the top and quickly spread along the three quarters where winger Jack Moore finished off the flowing move to touch down in the corner.

From the restart, Rob Fitch intercepted an Imps attack and strolled through to dot down under the posts for an unopposed try that he also converted. Fitch enjoyed a fine afternoon as his tactical kicking in the swirling gale kept Avon on the front foot and condemned the visitors to lengthy spells deep inside their own half. It came as no surprise as Avon added further tries to emphasize their dominance.

A well-rehearsed training ground move saw emergency number 8 Ben Hurd break to the blind side of a powerful scrum before feeding scrum half Kiddie Sheikh who unleashed winger Matt Thresher on a side stepping run to the try line. Next saw centre Zak Harwood rewarded for a fine display to touch down the bonus point try. Fitch converted both tries.

Then a carbon copy of the blind side scrum move followed, allowing Thresher to add his second try and take over at the top of the try scoring charts with his 9th of the season. Staring down the barrel, Imperial responded his a try at the other end to reduce the deficit to 31-5 at the interval.

After the break, Avon soon added two more scores with a Fitch penalty and then a flowing backs move saw Jonny Batchelor sell a dummy on an elusive run to add another converted try. The visitors again responded for another consolation score before the game eventually petered out as Avon relaxed their intensity as conditions worsened. This 8th win of the season leaves Avon poised in 4th place in Somerset Counties 2 with a trip to Huish Tigers at Taunton to follow next week.