Forge Side 26 Avonmouth 8

On the coldest night of the year so far and the eve of the International fixtures, Forge Side travelled to Avonmouth to take on the Old Boys under lights in the first fixture between the two sides. The visitors took to the field, which had a covering of frost, hoping to return to winning ways after two defeats on the trot.

From the kick off Forge Side attacked hoping to establish an early lead. With the pack on top the backs were able to receive ample ball to run at the opposition, but, handling errors prevented the visitors turning possession into points.

Outside half Nigel Hatherway showed he was back to his old self, putting in some huge touch kicks to keep the home side pinned in their own half. The visitors took the lead after a quarter of an hour when prop Hugh Morgan bulldozed his way over after a powerful run from twenty yards out. Hatherway added the conversion.

Forge Side kicked off the second half playing down the slope and from the off had the visitors in all sorts of trouble at scrum and line out where lock Jon Howells and second row Andrew Fry dominated, only stout defence keeping the visitors out. After some intense pressure Forge Side increased their lead when Howells crashed over from a five yard scrum. The visitors rang the changes in the second half but, it was evergreen centre Nathan Edwards who caught the eye with two tries. The first finishing off a fine passing movement and the second a solo effort. Both were converted by Hatherway.

With conditions deteriorating the referee blew early saving the visitors from a heavier defeat.