Wins for Walcot and Combe Down but under-strength Avon thrashed

Walcot made it five bonus-point wins from five games in Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South when they beat Chippenham 2nd XV 29-10 at Allington Fields on Saturday 18th October.

Walcot 2nd XV, black and white, and Keynsham 3rd XV prepare to scrum down at Albert Field on Saturday 18th October | Photo © Walcot RFC

Ed Harris, the Lansdown-based club’s skipper, was very pleased with the five points gained in Wiltshire – but he admitted that the performance was far from ideal.

Gabriel Moore, Joe Healy, Tom Hulbert and Mark McAlonan each scored a try for Walcot.

Standout performances came from forwards Ethan McLellan, Mark McAlonan and long-term injury returnee Kieren Norris.

Walcot 2nd XV had a disappointing afternoon at Albert Field, losing 60-22 to Keynsham 3rd XV in Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North.

Although the hosts grabbed the first try, courtesy of a pinpoint chip and chase by Nick Dagger, Keynsham scored regularly.

The Walcot set piece was very good. Neil Fletcher, Ross Garty and Jordan Wickens provided a solid platform in the scrum and the line-out was very secure.

But it was in open play that the major differences between the sides were most evident.

Keynsham, methodical and well drilled, took advantage of any lapse in tackling by Walcot and usually scored when they approached the try line.

The second Walcot try came from Fynn Honeyman after captain Dean Griffiths had taken the initiative to set him up. Harry Bullard bagged the hosts’ third score.

Aware that Keynsham were going to win, Walcot decided to push for the four-try bonus point. It came from the game’s final action, Ross Garty touching down.

With both Walcot teams having an afternoon off from competitive duty on Saturday 25th October, the club are hosting a mixed-ability charity match against Longlevens (3pm).

Walcot are looking for new players. Anyone interested in joining can attend training at Albert Field on Tuesdays and Thursdays (7pm).

Combe Down bounced back from their drubbing by Minety to overcome Supermarine 21-5 at Holly’s Corner in Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North.

The hard-fought battle started perfectly for the hosts when vice-captain Jay Fenton-Springer finished off some lovely link-up play to dive over early on. Elis Jones, returning to the side, added the extras.

However, this was the only try during the first half, with both defences standing firm. Combe moved the ball well but were occasionally guilty of overplaying and surrendering possession in promising positions.

The second half began with the Down back on the front foot. From a dominant scrum, Dean Priestman picked up and powered over the line, Jones slotting the conversion.

Moments later, Jones got onto the scoresheet. He spotted a gap in the defence, sold a dummy and glided under the posts for a try that was converted to stretch the lead to 21-0.

Supermarine kept battling and were rewarded with a well-worked try out wide.

The closing stages were fiercely contested, with both sides putting in huge hits and showing commitment in defence.

With Minety falling short at Pewsey Vale, the Black & Ambers’ victory moved them back to the top of the table.

Combe’s man of the match was Sim Fenton-Springer for another dominant performance in the scrum.

The Down’s 2nd XV were defeated 62-22 at a strong Warminster side in Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central.

After a competitive first half, the hosts pulled away.

Despite the result, there were plenty of positives for Combe, with clear progress from the previous week’s performance.

Pick of the visiting side was Alfie Playfor for his tireless work rate and strong defensive display.

Combe head coach Jimmy Rees said: “We were very wounded last week [with defeats for the 1st XV and 2nd XV on Saturday 11th October].

“However, we spoke about how we react to a setback, and I think the lads bounced back fantastically – two performances to be proud of.

“There’s still a long way to go to get to where we want to be but we’re definitely heading in the right direction.”

Missing seven 1st XV regulars, Avon took a 66-10 pasting when they entertained unbeaten table-toppers Clevedon in Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset. The result was the Hicks Field outfit’s heaviest defeat for six years.

The opening 15 minutes proved fairly even, with Avon posing some attacking threats. But several missed tackles allowed Clevedon to open the scoring with a converted try.

As Avon responded well, Rob Fitch slotted a penalty before the visitors became increasingly dominant, their number 8 Edd Ryder completing a hat-trick of tries.

Still Avon came back but they uncharacteristically failed to score from a five-metre attacking line-out and then failed to clear the ball from inside their own 22.

Clevedon ruthlessly took advantage with another two tries before half-time. Fly-half Sol Scrace converted all of the seasiders’ first-period tries for a 35-3 lead at the turnaround.

To their credit, Avon did not crumble, with veteran Damien Sawyer, Sam Book and Stu Dilloway all performing heroics.

The hosts then scored the try of the match as Dan Cousineau set off on a mazy 70-metre run, leaving defenders trailing in his wake, before touching down. Fitch converted – but that was the end of Avon’s scoring.

Clevedon grew increasingly confident as they broke through attempted tackles to get behind the first line of defence, before swarming support runners put the gloss on their performance with another five tries.

Avon gave a debut to 17-year-old Ollie Mutlow on the wing. He performed admirably on his first appearance, turning out alongside his uncle Chris Mutlow.

The younger Mutlow made two try-saving tackles – and as Avon attacked strongly in the closing stages, he was denied a touchdown.

Local teams’ results from Saturday 18th October:

Counties 1 Tribute Ale Southern South: Chippenham 2nd XV 10 Walcot 29.

Counties 2 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts North: Combe Down 21 Supermarine 5.

Counties 2 Tribute Ale Somerset: Avon 10 Clevedon 66, Burnham-on-Sea 48 Oldfield Old Boys 17.

Counties 3 Tribute Ale Dorset & Wilts Central: Avonvale walkover v Trowbridge 3rd XV, Frome 2nd XV 45 Bath Saracens 10, Warminster 62 Combe Down 2nd XV 22.

Counties 3 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Bristol Harlequins 27 Old Sulians 39.

Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV 39 Midsomer Norton 3rd XV 7, Walcot 2nd XV 22 Keynsham 3rd XV 60.

Local teams’ fixtures for Saturday 25th October:

Counties 3 & Below South Plate Round 2: Old Sulians v Kingswood, Warminster v Bath Saracens.

Counties 4 Tribute Ale Somerset North: Oldfield Old Boys 2nd XV v Imperial 2nd XV.

Charity match: Walcot Mixed Ability v Longlevens Mixed Ability.