Both sides will heading out west on Saturday, the 1st XV to Avonvale, who play at Bathford, the 2nd XV to Bath Saracens whose ground is on Claverton Down in Bath.
Avonvale were the promoted team last season and have had a remarkably good initial season in D&W1. After a narrow first week loss against Warminster, Anonvale embarked on a hugely impressive 5 match unbeaten run that took them to the top group in the table. In their 7th match they visited Minety and only lost by a single point, 13-12, in a very entertaining match. Since then they have maintained their fine run of form and now find themselves, with just four matches remaining, in 3rd place in the league with a highly creditable record of Played 18, won 14, drawn 1 and lost 3, having scored 499 points and conceded just 165.
Avonvale’s 72 points puts them 17 points clear of Minety (or 16 clear, when the missing bonus point from last weekend is added). Tom Claxton’s team will need to bring their “A” game to this fixture if Minety are to make up ground on Avonvale and overtake Warminster, who presently hold 4th place in the league.
The 2nd XV travel to Claverton Down to take on Bath Saracens, like Avonvale, newly added to the league this year. Bath sit in 5th place, two above Minety with a record of Played 15, Won 5 and Lost 10. Minety, in 7th place with 26 points, three fewer than Bath, appear to have a much better record having won 7 of their 15 matches, but the Minety record is somewhat skewed by points deducted for conceded matches when the village team has been unable to field a team.
Match reports will be posted on this site on Sunday.
Avonvale’s address: Bathford Playing Fields, Bathford, Bath. BA1 7SN
Bath Saracens: Sullis Sports Club, Claverton Down Road, Bath. BA2 7AU
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