With a number of players out of position due to injuries and unavailabilities – including skipper Scott Book playing as a makeshift fly half whilst also jumping in the lineout! – Avon were unsurprisingly a little disjointed at times but produced a wholehearted performance to threaten Wivey’s undefeated home record.

Despite playing up the slope in the first half, Wivey exerted all the early pressure but were denied by the visitors’ defence with man-of-the-match Chaz Meddick earning several vital turnovers to provide some much needed respite.

After a scoreless first quarter, Avon gradually got into their stride and a powerful forward drive saw them take play close to the Wivey line before a needless penalty allowed the hosts to clear the danger. Shortly afterwards from clean lineout possession inside their own half, Wivey launched a flowing threequarter move up the slope and were rewarded with a try on the right flank. Within 10 minutes, they extended their lead as their lively winger created space through the middle to set up a try for his left wing counterpart.

With a conversion added to open up a 12 point gap, things were starting to look ominous for Avon but they suddenly silenced the large home crowd as a surging lineout drive saw Ben Hurd emerge from the pile of bodies for a try to close the gap to a single score.

Just after the half time break came a critical moment as Josh Hiscott was deemed to deliberately knock on an attempted interception and sent to the sin bin. Taking advantage of the extra man, Wivey launched several close range drives and were eventually awarded a penalty try as their large pack drove for the line from a 5 metre scrum. With 30 minutes still to play, the home support expected Wivey to cut loose but excellent Avon defence, led by Zak Harwood and Ian Burnell, kept them at bay.

Restored to 15 players and with huge shifts put in by chairman Ian Monochino-Ayres and Chris Mutlow up front, Avon started to threaten again. Eventually their efforts led to a promising attacking position where livewire scrumhalf Alex Gapper made an incisive break before offloading to Hurd who touched down his 18th try of the season. With Batchelor slotting the conversion, suddenly it was again a single score game but Wivey showed their experience down the slope to close out the win to celebrate their promotion for next season.

This Thursday (11th April), Avon are playing Old Sulians in the semi-final of the Bath Combination Vase at Walcot with a 7pm kick off. The winners will go on to face Combe Down in the final on the Rec on Wednesday 17th April.