If Avon were to extend their unbeaten run, they knew that they would have to be at their best against an in-form St Bernadettes side who had spent most of the season towards the top of the league table. They started the game brightly and their strong scrummage had the Bristol based visitor going backwards from the first engagement. It took just 10 mins for Avon to turn pressure into points when following a textbook lineout catch and drive prop Liam Ridley got the ball down. Bernadettes however had already shown why they have been successful this season with a mixture of strong running from their lively back row and excellent support play and had taken the lead just 5 mins later following good handling and a great line which saw their second row canter over from 30 metres out. The rest of the first half was a battle and Avon’s much improved defensive structure of recent weeks was severely test at time but held firm to keep the visitors at bay. With their set piece working well and the backs look dangerous Avon always looked the most likely to score and just before half time scrum half Kiddie Sheikh scampered around the blindside following another strong maul to give Avon a 12 7 lead at the break.

Man of the match Ian Parris latched on to a loose ball to extend the home side lead early in the second half but despite following this up with plenty of possession in the next 15 mins strong Bernadette's defence keep them out and following another sustained attack on the visitor line the ball shot out the side of a Avon ruck and Bernadettes countered brilliantly from their own line and a number of offloads later were under the Posts to bring themselves back to within 3 points with 15 mins of normal time left. The visitor now sniffed a first victory at Hickfield in over 10 years and threw everything at Bath side who weathered the storm and with a couple of minutes to go set up a drive to allow the ever-reliable Ben Hurd to calm the nerves with straight forward score. Rob Fitch added the extras. The game was well controlled and allowed to flow by the referee and ex Bath and England captain Phil De Glanville who had 10 mins of injury time on the watch due to a number of stoppages.

Avon went on hunt for the bonus point try which came through Dan Cousineau and this was quickly followed by a second try for Sheikh with an a well read interception and then Rhys Van Handel on the stroke of full time. With fly half Fitch making his 200th appearance converting them all. Bernadettes also touchdown during the frenetic injury time period and the final score of 43 21 did not really reflect how hard the visitor pushed Avon.