As well as the excellent result and outstanding team commitment, Avon were specially pleased by the surprising return to action after an emergency call up for the popular Shaun Wynes six years after a career-threatening injury.

Although facing a larger pack, Avon dominated the first quarter territorially and should really have opened the scoring after a Ben Crane half break. With the Avon forwards responding to the challenge, they kept the visitors on the defensive before a long range penalty then drifted narrowly wide.

As the game opened up, Burnham's dangerous runners broke away and only magnificent Avon defence, epitomised by Sam Book, Ian Burnell and Rhodri Theaker in the back row and Stuart Dilloway and Ben Crane in midfield, kept them at bay.

Twice winger Dan Griffin fastened onto cross field kicks from Rob Fitch and was narrowly thwarted. With the Avon front row of Chaz Meddick, Ben Hurd and Kane Book enjoying the edge in the set pieces, they stole several strikes against the head. Meanwhile JJ Pulvertaft showed what a useful acquisition he is with a thunderous display in the second row alongside the grafting Adam Hinchcliffe-Walz.

Just when it seemed the first half would peter out with no score as both sets of defences reigned supreme, Avon were awarded a kickable penalty and fly half Fitch made no mistake to open up a narrow 3 nil lead at the interval.

This was doubled immediately after the restart as Fitch adroitly slotted a drop goal and then added another penalty 5 minutes later after a late tackle for a 9-0 lead. Burnham responded positively to test Avon's defence with wave after wave of attacks but Avon's tackling and commitment were outstanding as they held firm both at close quarters and out wide.

Avon thought they had extended their lead still further after another Fitch penalty was signalled by the touch judge only for the referee to override the decision and this seemed to spur Burnham on as they once again launched a series of attacking thrusts. With yellow-card magnet Kane Book sin binned again after multiple team penalties and Chaz Meddick off the field with a rib injury, the Seasiders finally outstretched the Avon defence for a try in the right corner.

At 9-5 adrift, Burnham sniffed a chance of the win and increased the pressure on the Avon line but were constantly thwarted by some inspirational tackling by the whole team whose commitment and will to win was outstanding. Then, after live-wire scrum half Alex Gapper took play deep inside the visitors half, Avon finally put the result beyond doubt with Fitch's final penalty to close out a well-deserved but hard-fought win.

Next week Avon travel to Old Bristolians.