Once again missing several key players through injury, Avon showed tremendous team spirit in an intensively physical match and had the chance to register a surprise win 5 minutes before the end as a long range penalty chance drifted agonisingly wide of the posts.

Earlier Keynsham slotted a first minute penalty to open the scoring before a wave of Avon attacks suddenly found stand-in hooker Sam Book in space as he sprinted down the touchline for a try in the corner. Unfortunately Avon didn’t deal well with the restart and immediately conceded another penalty to allow Keynsham to regain the lead. They then extended this with a well-worked converted try to open up a 13-5 lead after quarter of an hour’s play.

This was to prove the end of their scoring though as magnificent Avon defence, epitomised by Lucas Pratt and Sam Wykes up front and supported by Ozzie Bryan and Stu Dilloway amongst the backs, repelled any further attacks. As Avon grew in confidence, their close quarter offloading game started to pose questions and was only thwarted by some extreme defensive hits from Keynsham that tested the laws to the limit. Avon were rewarded for their endeavours with a penalty from fullback Johnny Batchelor to reduce the deficit by half time.

With skipper Scott Book leading by example, Avon continued to close down Keynsham’s attacking options and looked dangerous on the counter as Ollie Flight and Glen Atherton threatened to break free. Another sweetly-struck penalty from Batchelor closed the gap to two points to set up a tense final quarter. Ed Bailey-Hobbs came off the bench to make his 1st team debut to replace a battered Josh Harding-Wyatt who had run himself into the ground and suddenly the potentially match-winning penalty chance was awarded before Keynsham eventually cleared the ball to make the game safe.

Next week, Avon 1sts and 2nds are both at home to Old Bristolians.