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Final Match Report Three Andy Taylor penalties and a first-half try from winger Charlie Reynolds helped Avonmouth clinch their first Charles Saunders Combination Cup victory since 1994. A crowd of 1,250 attended a disappointing, stop-start, mistake-riddled game at the Memorial Ground. Avonmouth were not complaining, though, after getting their hands on the silverware for the seventh time in their history and also winning back the 'Oggy Man' trophy which is traditionally at stake when these great rivals meet. It was certainly a night for 47-year-old Avonmouth tighthead Chris Jeanes to savour. Only one player in his side had been born when he enjoyed his first final victory, all the way back in 1984. And there was special satisfaction at securing a fifth winners' medal, particularly after Avonmouth were given a torrid time in the scrums for much of the game. The back-row unit of Elliott Goodman, Neil Evans and Ryan Templar performed minor miracles as the South West One West side were regularly shunted backwards at the set-piece, while the tactical boot of fly-half Matt Belbin and goal-kicking of Taylor also proved to be crucial. Avonmouth dominated the opening exchanges, Taylor being short with an ambitious 40-metre penalty attempt before landing a 22-metre effort soon after. A dust-up between the sides ended with Avonmouth hooker Craig Britton and Dings scrum-half Ricky Jones being sin-binned by referee Natalie Amor. But Dings failed to press home their extra-man advantage up front, not throwing in straight at a line-out five metres out and then giving away a penalty when applying concerted pressure deep in the Avonmouth 22. Clear-cut try-scoring chances were few and far between all evening, with neither side able to secure quick ball at the breakdown and find space to work in. But after Dings failed to make an overlap count on the half-hour, Avonmouth surged upfield and extended their lead. A flowing attack appeared certain to produce a try wide out on the right, only for Dings to scramble back and stem the tide. But the ball was then worked swiftly left, Taylor putting Reynolds into just enough space for an unconverted touchdown in the corner. Dings stepped up the pressure in the second half, earning a string of penalties. But Dan Quartley, who was short with a 40-metre penalty shot in the first period, was narrowly wide with a straight 30-metre effort in the 43rd minute and unsuccessful again two minutes later, from 40 metres. Taylor extended Avonmouth's lead in the 57th minute with a 35-metre kick, for not releasing. And a third successful penalty crept over from 35 metres, for offside 10 minutes later, to effectively put his side out of sight. Dings tried desperately hard to get on the scoreboard in the closing stages but it was not to be, and Avonmouth even managed to claim two strikes against the head before the final whistle. Rumours that Jeanes would mark the occasion by announcing his retirement proved to be unfounded. "There's plenty of life left in this old dog," he said. "And I'll be playing on Wednesday in the Vets Vase final at Aretians." Dings skipper James Luck said: "It was a disappointing night for us; we failed to click. Credit to Avonmouth, but that was probably our worst performance of the season. We did not stick to our game plan and were trying things we haven't done all year." |
