Round-up of action from the grassroots rugby scene – Saturday 29th November.
Walcot were humbled 59-12 here at Sherborne in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South on Saturday 29th November, the result taking the Dorset All Blacks to the top of the table | Photo © Richard Briggs
Avon had not chalked up a victory since the opening day of the season when they received neighbours Oldfield Old Boys on Saturday 22nd November – but now they have won two games in a row.
The team from Hicks Field are up to seventh place in Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset, having followed their 21-5 derby success against Oldfield by overcoming visitors Castle Cary 28-0 on Saturday 29th November.
South Somerset’s Cary came to Bath boasting a similar record to Avon’s, having chalked up two victories from their seven previous outings.
Much of the game was played at a fast and furious pace as the guests sought to speed up proceedings and spread the ball wide, with Avon suckered into playing as if in a sevens tournament, rather than exerting their usual controlled approach. Although this may have appeared entertaining for spectators, there were too many handling errors and wrong options to provide much continuity.
Avon showed glimpses of their forward power, epitomised by their first score. A powerful line-out drive ended up with the predatory Ben Hurd crashing over the line. Rob Fitch landed the conversion – the first of four he put over during an immaculate display off the tee.
Rhys van den Handel was impressive with his charging runs, multiple tackles and clean line-out catches in a well-deserved man-of-the-match display. Ian Burnell was also in the thick of the action.
The Avon back three dealt well with the Cary fly-half’s tactical kicking and posed questions in attack.
Despite the hosts’ scrum dominance, the score remained at 7-0 until midway through the second half. Then a huge pushover scrum marched their opponents back 20 metres before Dan Cousineau touched down.
This lead was soon increased as Will Bartholomew stripped the ball in a tackle on Cary’s midfield attack and outsprinted the away defence in a 70-metre charge to score under the posts.
With Avon now seeking the bonus-point try, this was delivered in style.
Ben May secured clean line-out possession on halfway and the pack trundled forward to suck in the defence. Liam Ridley broke off upfield and delivered a sweet offload to scrum-half Kiddie Sheikh, who celebrated his 100th Avon 1st XV appearance with a lovely try.
The result was a repeat of that when the clubs had last played each other – 28 years earlier.
Walcot’s Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South promotion push has suffered a massive blow, with a second successive defeat – and it was humiliating.
The Lansdown-based club went to the top of the table by dethroning Swanage & Wareham with a 20-19 success at Albert Field on Saturday 8th November.
But Walcot lost their unbeaten record when they crashed 11-3 at Salisbury a fortnight later – and on Saturday 29th November they were drubbed 59-12 at Sherborne, the result sending the Gainsborough Park outfit to the summit.
With a fixture at home to lowly Swindon to come this weekend, Walcot need a win as they are now in third place, four points behind Sherborne after eight rounds of matches.
Combe Down picked up five points the easy way in Counties 2 Tribute Dorset & Wilts North on Saturday 29th November, as scheduled visitors Pewsey Vale could not raise a side and conceded the tie.
The second-placed Down are level on points with league leaders Minety.
Local teams’ results for Saturday 29th November:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Sherborne 59 Walcot 12.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Combe Down walkover v Pewsey Vale.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Avon 28 Castle Cary 0, Oldfield Old Boys 14 Minehead Barbarians 26.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Bath Saracens 38 Melksham 3rd XV 5, Frome 2nd XV 30 Avonvale 24.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Old Sulians 41 Bristol Telephone Area 20.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Walcot 2nd XV conceded to Cheddar Valley.
Local teams’ fixtures for Saturday 6th December:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Walcot v Swindon.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Fairford v Combe Down.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Rebels Rugby v Avon, Castle Cary v Oldfield Old Boys.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Combe Down 2nd XV v Trowbridge 3rd XV, North Dorset 2nd XV v Bath Saracens.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Midsomer Norton 2nd XV v Old Sulians.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV v Walcot 2nd XV.
