With the Gloucester side giving away numerous penalties as they struggled to withstand the Avon onslaught, the visitors were unlucky not to get on the scoreboard when both JJ Pulvertaft and Ben Hurd had tries disallowed.

So it was against the run of play when Coney found some space on the right hand side to allow their winger to sprint away from 50m out.

This set the pattern for the rest of the game with Avon securing plenty of ball but unable to turn it into points. Coney extended their lead on the stroke of half time with a try from a catch and drive to give them a 14 point lead.

The second half saw Avon's injury problems increase, losing scrum half Ollie Flight, back row Ian Burnell and fullback Glen Atherton all within 15 minutes of each other. Avon reorganised the best they could but leaked further tries at regular intervals.

The pack did remain solid however and they were rewarded with a penalty try when the referee lost patience with Coney's infringements as they collapsed a scrum on their own line.

One piece of good news for Avon was the return of captain Scott Book to first team action from the bench following a 10 month injury layoff.

Next week, Avon entertain Keynsham at Hicks Field.