The weekend started well for Avon as their 2nd team enjoyed a comprehensive 45 – 0 win against Stotherts 2nds under lights on Friday evening. But fortunes changed on Saturday afternoon as Avon 1sts suffered a chastening 59 – 14 defeat at the hands of a strong Weston Super Mare United.

Fielding an intriguing mixture of veterans, former first-teamers and youngsters, Avon 2nds produced a scintillating display down the slope in the first half. This led to tries at regular intervals for a 38 nil lead at the interval. Things were tougher in the second half up the slope and with Stotherts tightening their defence, the black and ambers were only able to add one more try to their tally.

Scrum half Ollie Flight bagged a hat-trick of tries on his return from injury after 3 months out. A strong pack performance was rewarded with tries from Chaz Meddick and Scott Book whilst the Avon wingers Harry Harwood and Tim Wood also touched down. Rob Fitch slotted 5 conversions to complete the scoring.

Avon 1st team, weakened by injuries and unavailabilities, were always going to be up against it at Weston Super Mare and their woes were heightened after Weston’s first team match at Launceston was called off due to Covid. This allowed Weston to field several first teamers in their backs who ruthlessly exploited Avon’s vulnerabilities to run in 9 tries throughout the afternoon.

Excellent Avon defence in the first quarter had restricted their hosts to only 2 penalties with Ian Burnell and Jonny Griffiths working tirelessly in the back row but, as Weston grew in confidence with a series of sweeping three quarter moves, the tries started to flow as they opened up a 27 nil lead by half time.

Avon were only able to develop intermittent threats with Ben May, Tom Boreham and lock forward Xander Davis, acting as an emergency centre, occasionally making inroads. But as soon as there was a mistake or turnover, the Seasiders launched fluent handling attacks to expose the defensive frailties by adding a further 6 tries to bolster their commanding score line.

Dan Griffin epitomised Avon’s commitment as he returned to the fray after having dislocated his elbow and the beleaguered visitors took some crumbs of comfort with 2 late tries, firstly from Iain Parris after a break from veteran scrum half Damo Sawyer and then from Josh Hiscott as a reward for a monumental performance up front. Jonny Batchelor converted both but Avon now need to focus on next week’s encounter away to Bristol Harlequins.