However, all the players promoted from the seconds or playing out of position performed well in an excellent all round performance; none more so than 17 year old Tom Webb, who showed impressive composure and maturity on his first team debut, playing at fly-half alongside brother Ross at inside centre.

Newent took an early lead through the trusty boot of Ross Webb, kicked from the Avon 10m line after his pack won a penalty at a scrum. However, he was wide with a more difficult chance a few minutes later and on eighteen minutes Avon fly-half Rob Fitch equalised from the tee after Newent were caught offside as they defended within their 22.

The visitors from Bath took the lead six minutes later, with a try which began at a scrum on their 22. They caused confusion in the Newent defence by breaking down the blindside and didn’t waste the three on one overlap they’d created as full-back Jamie Leeming finished by the posts to give Rob Fitch a straightforward conversion. A few minutes later the alarm bells were ringing again as Fitch intercepted a pass with an open field in front of him, but Dan Fletcher hunted him down with a great cover tackle in the Newent 22.

The game was past the half-hour mark before Newent got back on level terms with a well-worked try. Tom Webb made the initial line break before feeding big brother Ross. Lee Warren and Charlie Gellert kept the move alive before Olly Wood finished well on the left wing. Webb Senior’s touchline conversion tied the score at 10-10.

Three minutes later Newent had the lead and Tom Webb a try to mark his debut. Taking quick turnover ball from a ruck in Avon’s 22, the youngster threw a dummy and ghosted through a gap to touch down beneath the posts. Brother Ross added the extras.

Rob Fitch reduced the arrears shortly before half-time, his kick bouncing in off an upright after Newent were penalised for illegally halting Avon’s rolling maul, leaving the game apparently finely balanced at the interval.

Half time: Newent 17 Avon 13

Newent flew out of the blocks at the start of the second half and dominated the third quarter, taking the game away from Avon with a fine display of high intensity rugby which produced four excellent tries.

The visitors seemed to have survived a spell of intense pressure when they sent a long clearance kick downfield, but Brett Gardner returned it with interest, as he did all game, and Reuben Goatley, James Dean and Chris Steward kept the ball alive to set up a ruck deep in the Avon 22. The ball was spun to Tom Webb who popped up a pass for brother Ross to crash over before converting his try.

Five minutes later Webb Senior added another three points from the tee, Avon infringing in front of their posts as they struggled to defend an attack set up by another great run from Brett Gardner.

Newent’s bonus point try followed shortly afterwards. Once more Brett Gardner was the catalyst, his scything run being taken on by Fred Nottingham to set a ruck deep in the 22. More quick ball found Ross Webb, who fed second row Toby Freeman –charging in on a good line like the centre he used to be- for an unstoppable run to the posts. Ross Webb added the extras to put his side comfortably placed at 34-13.

34-13 soon became 39-13; Tommy Devries –on as a replacement on the left wing- caught a clearance kick and fed No 8 Lee Warren, who was lively in the loose all game as part of a mobile and well balanced back row trio. Warren set up a ruck and more quick ball was fed blind, where Tom Webb’s perfectly timed and delivered pass released Dan Fletcher, looking very much the part at blindside flanker, for a sprint to the left hand corner.

The game went off the boil slightly during its final quarter, being slowed down by a number of injury stoppages and resultant replacements. Avon enjoyed a period of pressure but couldn’t find any further lapses of concentration to exploit in the home defence.

As the match entered what was to be a prolonged period of stoppage time, Newent produced try number six. Mikey Addis, another 17 year old on as a replacement in the back row, won a turnover at a ruck 25m out. The ball was sent down the blindside where Ross Webb took it on before producing a lovely offload for his centre partner Charlie Gellert to burst through for the try.

The game ended with Newent’s right wing Reuben Goatley diving over in the corner, but he was denied the try his performance deserved because he’d put a foot in touch en route to the line. No matter, Newent should be very pleased with the performance and margin of victory by an inexperienced side against one of the stronger teams in in the division.

Full time: Newent 44 Avon 13

Newent Team: Brett Gardner; Reuben Goatley, Charlie Gellert, Ross Webb (cap.), Olly Wood; Tom Webb, James Dean; Morgan Morris, Luke Williams, Chris Steward; Toby Freeman, Luke Marriott; Dan Fletcher, Fred Nottingham, Lee Warren. Replacements: David Boon, Mikey Addis, Tommy Devries.

Newent scorers:
Tries: O Wood, T Webb, R Webb, T Freeman, D Fletcher, C Gellert.
Cons: R Webb (4).
Pens: R Webb (2)

Report by Simon Barker