Another Comprehensive Win at Hicks Field

The tricky conditions with a greasy ball, heavy pitch and blustery wind were not conducive to flowing rugby yet Avon still managed to score 8 excellent tries in a decent all-round team performance.

Jake Coates scored the first and last tries and was only denied his hat-trick by a cruel bounce of the ball over the line (and by being too honest when the ref asked him if he had scored!). The opening score came after an offload out of contact by Ben May released Coates to sprint up the touchline before diving over in the corner. Then cleanly taken line out ball was moved wide for Matt Thresher to score in the opposite corner.

Avon’s pack was now starting to dominate with Dan Griffin secure in the line out and Ian Burnell filling in excellently at prop. Meanwhile Xander Hall-Davis was having a huge impact on the game with his powerful charges sucking in the Weston defence, one of which created space for the supporting Iain Parris to release Escher Le Duc to touch down the next try.

The bonus point try came after only 30 minutes with winger Jack Moore showing great power and pace to swerve through 3 despairing tacklers on his way to the try line for a wonderful individual score.

Weston came back with a period of sustained pressure and were rewarded for their endeavours by a try after a series of pick and drives to leave the half time score at 20-5.

With Avon enjoying the benefit of the swirling wind after the interval, some lengthy kicks from Coates established good field position and Ben May finished off a powerful line out drive to add the next try.

Another monstrous charge from Hall-Davis created havoc in the WSM defence, leaving scrum half Kiddie Sheikh to snipe over for his 10th try of the season. Thresher added the extras then cut a great line from recycled ball to storm through to score under the posts, again slotting the conversion.

The final try of the afternoon resulted from more forward dominance creating quick ball for the backs where Coates sold a dummy then sprinted over the try line. Thresher again converted to complete the scoring.