With deft handling, Avon made a great start as forwards and backs combined to stretch play wide where Zak Harwood touched down in the corner, with Batchelor adding the extras. Repeating this style of play, Avon were immediately on the attack again through their offloading game, only to be denied further scores by untimely knock-ons and turnovers.

A wayward lineout throw allowed Imperial to get back in the game with a try. Then Avon got sucked into an arm-wrestle as Imps direct running and powerful charges ended up with them scoring another converted try to take the lead. In a physical encounter as tempers boiled over, Chris Sawyer and the Imps flanker were both sin-binned after an off the ball incident as the game became more attritional.

Avon levelled the scores on the half-hour as a well-worked lineout saw Kane Book win banker-ball at the front for Ian Burnsnell to burrow towards the line before transferring to Xander Davis who powered over for the try. With half time approaching, Avon again took the lead as Glen Atherton spotted space behind the home defence with a delicate chip towards the corner for Jonny Batchelor to win the race for the touchdown.

A fired-up Imperial reduced the deficit in the second half with a penalty and launched wave after wave of close quarter attacks on the Avon line but were met with magnificent defence to repel all their attempts. Then a moment of magic from man-of-the-match Batchelor suddenly extended Avon’s lead as he drilled a magnificent diagonal kick and outpaced the despairing cover to score in the corner, adding the conversion for good measure.

With the try bonus in the bag, the game pattern continued as Imperial aggressively laid siege to the Avon defence but were twice held up over the line by committed tackling and were unable to break down their stubborn defence, despite being a man short through Kane Book’s sin binning for repeated team offences. Ollie Flight, who had been outstanding throughout on his return to scrum half, managed the game well and set up a tremendous attacking opportunity for Avon who capitalised as a Stu Dilloway half break was fastened onto by Chaz Meddick for their 5th try, again converted by Batchelor.

Afterwards skipper Scott Book said “This was a tremendous team effort to show awesome attitude and commitment to inflict a first home defeat on a very powerful side, which is a credit to the players and coaches.”