Match Report 3 November 2007
Avonvale 1st XV 39 Salisbury Exiles 10
Team Sheet
- Steve Grant
- John Crabbe (Capt)
- Mark Allen
- Danny Witts
- James Allard
- Leon Chignell
- Joe Vowles
- Ben Sparks
- Jason Russell
- Gareth Neate (VC)
- Chris Cooper
- Steven Bath
- Alex Fereday
- Gary Abbott
- Adam Brunton
Replacements
Simon Harris; Shaun Russell; Andrew Ball; Dougie Burcombe; Lee Fudge; Jerome Blanche; Alan Hobbs; Freddie Scobey
Scorers
Bath – 1 Try & 1 Conv; Allen – 1 Try; Sparks – 1 Try; Russell J – 1 Try; Burcombe – 1 Try; Fereday – 1 Try & 1 Conv; Vowles – 1 Try
The top of the table clash coincided with Avonvale’s first home game for a month and this promised to be an exciting homecoming. The Vale were eager to prove worthy of their place at the top of the table, in front of a large home crowd, and the Salisbury team were keen to settle the score after a resounding defeat at the end of last season; either way, one of the sides was due to forfeit their unbeaten record.
The game started as it would continue, with neither side willing to yield, but Avonvale quickly asserted their dominance in the set pieces. They won valuable ball against the head and took the game to Salisbury in all sectors. The stalemate was broken after 15 minutes when Steven Bath made an interception deep in his own half. Despite some impressive chasing, he touched down under the posts and duly converted to put Avonvale ahead. Gaining in confidence, Avonvale moved the ball well in the Backs, with strong running from Gary Abbott and Chris Cooper. A break by Adam Brunton from inside the Vale half led to Mark Allen receiving the ball 10 yards from the Salisbury try line. Despite the best attempts of 2 Exiles backs Mark struggled over for a well deserved try. Late in the first half, Salisbury came back into the game with a try out wide; this wasn’t converted.
Avonvale capitalised on their set piece dominance in the second half, with 2 tries from line-outs. Firstly with a catch and drive off their own ball, culminating in Jason Russell touching down and then with a solo effort from Joe Vowles, catching a Salisbury 5 yard defensive lineout throw and driving over the line. Salisbury took advantage of some Avonvale ill discipline about half way through the period. Running a couple of penalties, they drove towards the line to steal a consolation try. Regaining their composure, Avonvale got back on track with Alex Fereday cutting a great line through the Salisbury backs , off a pass from Neate, to touch down under the posts and convert himself. Ben Sparks created space for himself and others with some solid ball carrying, and charged through for a touchdown of his own. Towards the end of the game, having taken a scrum against the head on the Salisbury 22, replacement scrum half Al Hobbs made a break on the blind side and popped a pass to Doug Burcombe for a final score.
A well deserved victory for Vale playing 15 man rugby for the full 80 minutes stemming from a massive effort in the Pack; but the visitors are to be commended for their efforts to the final whistle.