Friendly

North Bristol 2nds 19 Avonmouth 2nds 34

A STRONG wind ensured that handling and kicking would be uncertain throughout, though the conditions underfoot were excellent.

Avonmouth’s pack pressurised North, making possession difficult.

Even so, scrum-half Chris Gransden’s calmness in distribution and strength on the ball were important to North.

Harry Collins and Steve Cumberpatch fought well off the fringes while Matt Bowden at centre and Steve Hudd impacted well in attack and defence.

An early attack from Avonmouth brought them a try but this was soon matched by a great run from North’s enigmatic centre Andre Samura to level the scores at 5-5.

Worsening cold and wet conditions affected handling but excellent teamwork and continuity left burly Bes Reed with ten metres to batter through Mouth's hesitant defence to score a rare try.

The big prop's face glowed with pleasure while Matt Hazzard’s conversion took North 12-5 ahead.

Just before half-time a gloomy sky unloaded an avalanche of stinging hail from which the shocked players ran for cover as if the hounds of hell were after them. Once the storm had abated normality was restored, though North displayed a signal lack of enthusiasm for ten minutes during which Mouth gained an ascendency they were never to lose and several tries gave them an unassailable lead.

Finally another exciting Hudd run ended with a touchdown, converted by Hazzard, to make the score respectable as Mouth finished deserving winners of an intriguing encounter.

North Bristol scorers: Tries - Steve Hudd, James Reed, Andre Samura; Conversions - Matt Hazzard (2).