But it was an ugly win as incessant drizzle made handling a lottery and a constant stream of breakdowns and penalties prevented much flowing rugby.
It was also a test of Avon’s resources with 9 regular squad members missing and several players out of position. Taking these challenges into consideration, it was to their credit that they emerged with a decent win at the end of a frustrating performance.

A non-descript opening quarter remained scoreless before a powerful scrum surge up the slope saw Ben Hurd touch down the pushover try. Matt Thresher added the extras.
As the youthful Wells team bounced back, they scored a well deserved try to cut the deficit, then slotted a penalty to take a narrow 8-7 lead at half time.

Playing down the slope, Avon’s tactics were to kick to the corners and to try to impose their physical presence on proceedings. This paid dividends as clean line out ball was moved infield for Thresher to cut a lovely line from Jake Coates delicate pass where he scored under another converted try under tge posts.

Playing with more authority, Avon started to create openings with dangerous runs from Iain Parris, Will Bartholomew and Kiddie Sheikh. Eventually the pressure told as Xander Hall-Davis crashed over from another line out drive.

Wells again counter attacked but were repelled by determined defence. Then a storming 40 metre maul downfield set up another attacking platform. Once again, clean line out ball was driven towards the line before Wells conceded a penalty try.

There were several candidates for the Man of the Match award, including the Snail revelling in the warthog conditions and Kiddie sniping throughout. Honourable mentions also to Damo defying the years on the wing and Dan Mutlow for being an unused replacement in the miserable conditions. Thanks also to the regular supporters who again gave their support to the players on the field.

But, in a break from tradition, head coach Kai Harwood officially recognised the contribution made week in, week out, by skipper Kane Book with a well deserved MoM bottle of bubbly and medal, kindly sponsored by Jos Davies.

With no game next week, Avon will hope that some of their injuries and unavailabilities clear up but were saddened to learn that popular centre Escher Le Duc will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.