Round-up of the grassroots rugby action – Saturday 10th January.
Walcot will return here to Albert Field for their clash with Devizes on Saturday 17th January as the new leaders of Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South | Photo © Richard Briggs
Avon gained revenge for their September defeat at Minehead Barbarians by beating the West Somerset outfit 39-34 in the return fixture on Saturday 10th January.
And the victory in Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset was the perfect result for Avon skipper Kane Book, who was making his 400th appearance for the 1st XV.
Third-placed Minehead took an early lead as they exploited a yellow card for Avon centre Olly Flight, the visitors’ full-back carving through a midfield gap for a converted try under the posts.
With Avon then starting to enjoy more possession, they stretched the Barbarians’ defence and levelled the game. An odds-on score from winger Jack Moore was halted by a high tackle, resulting in a penalty try for Avon and a yellow card for the Minehead defender.
More adventurous handling by Avon then saw the ball swiftly transferred to winger Iain Parris who made good ground along the touchline before passing out of the tackle to the supporting Zak Harwood, who crashed over the try line. Rob Fitch converted to give Avon the lead.
Minehead responded again and earned two successful penalties to narrow the score to a point.
With half-time approaching, more sustained Avon pressure was rewarded as a long mis-pass from Fitch found Moore in space to score in the corner, taking the score to 19-13.
With Will Hayward enjoying an excellent performance on the flank after injury and Dan Cousineau and Xander Hall-Davis making powerful inroads, Avon had a more settled look and extended their lead from a Fitch penalty in the second period.
Another sprint down the wing by Parris seemed sure to result in another try. But a desperate last-ditch tackle from the covering defence saw the ball dislodged as he dived for the line.
This seemed to encourage the visitors who added another converted try after a series of missed tackles on their winger.
Shortly afterwards, a massive counter-ruck from Minehead in their own 22 halted a promising Avon attack. And the Barbarians moved the turned-over ball out wide to snatch the lead with another converted try.
In a match that was refereed superbly by experienced official Jonathan Healy, it was now Avon’s turn to show their attacking prowess.
Good hands fed the ball to Moore, who burst through three tackles to score in the corner.
Driving forward play then created another opportunity and Harwood celebrated his return from injury by cutting a great line to score his second try, this unopposed and near the posts. Fitch added the extras.
As the match entered its last quarter, Avon felt that one more score should put the result beyond doubt.
Minehead had other ideas as their dangerous winger again took advantage of some poor tackles to touch down from a counter attack for a converted try. This levelled the scores at 34-34 – and the Barbarians had a man advantage as Parris was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.
The try of the match followed as a fitting way to settle an enthralling contest. A flowing three-quarter move found Moore in space down the touchline, where he passed out of the tackle to the supporting Harwood who kept the ball alive to Cousineau. As the last tackle came in, Cousineau released the ball to Moore who launched himself over the try line to complete his hat-trick.
There was still time for the Barbarians to seek one last onslaught – but the Avon defence held firm to seal an impressive victory.
Walcot returned to the top of Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South by beating hosts Trowbridge 2nd XV 48-5 on Saturday 10th January.
The Lansdown club are now a point ahead of second-placed Sherborne.
Swanage & Wareham had started the day in pole position but are down to third spot, having fallen 25-19 at Melksham.
Combe Down are now 10 points clear at the top of Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North.
They overcame second-placed Westbury 34-12 at Holly’s Corner on Saturday 10th January and received another boost with the news that third-placed Minety went down 14-12 at Swindon-based Supermarine.
Jimmy Rees, Combe’s head coach, said: “This past weekend was a huge positive step for us.
“The 1st XV overcame a resilient Westbury side in a massive top-of-the-table clash. The win takes us 10 points clear – but we can’t switch off now.
“Big games against Bradford-on-Avon and Minety are coming up, and we know there’s a target on our backs. The boys have embraced that challenge and used it as motivation.”
Meanwhile, Combe will host Corsham on Saturday 7th February in the Davis Access Bath Combination Vase.
And the Down will visit Burnham-on-Sea on Saturday 21st February in the Somerset Webb Ellis Vase.
Of Combe 2nd XV, who play in Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central and were beaten 53-28 at Avondale on Saturday 10th January, Rees said: “I’m incredibly proud of the development of our 2nd XV.
“Competing in such a tough league, we’re continuing to see strong numbers at training and on Saturdays.
“This is definitely a long-term project but it’s exciting to see new young players coming into the team and helping us build something for the future.
“We’ll take plenty of positives from the defeat against a strong Avonvale side and hope to carry that momentum into next weekend’s tough encounter with Warminster.”
Local teams’ results for Saturday 10th January:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Trowbridge 2nd XV 5 Walcot 48.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Combe Down 34 Westbury 12.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Avon 39 Minehead Barbarians 34, St Bernadette’s Old Boys 15 Oldfield Old Boys 7.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Avonvale 53 Combe Down 2nd XV 28, Salisbury 2nd XV 83 Bath Saracens 0.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Clevedon 2nd XV 29 Old Sulians 36.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV 23 Yatton 2nd XV 12, Walcot 2nd XV 36 Nailsea & Backwell 3rd XI 48.
Local teams’ fixtures for Saturday 17th January:
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Walcot v Devizes.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Bradford-on-Avon v Combe Down.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Hornets 2nd XV v Avon, Oldfield Old Boys v Clevedon.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Avonvale v Trowbridge 3rd XV, Bath Saracens v Frome 2nd XV, Combe Down 2nd XV v Warminster.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Old Sulians v Bristol Harlequins.
Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Keynsham 3rd XV v Walcot 2nd XV, Midsomer Norton 3rd XV v Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV.
