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Cirencester 20

Avonmouth Old Boys 10

CIRENCESTER RFC ended Avonmouth's 100 per cent record this season with a morale-boosting success at The Whiteway.

The game was full of running expansive rugby and played in perfect conditions.

Avonmouth, who were relegated from South West One last season, enjoyed large amounts of possession but ran into a Ciren defence at its destructive best.

The scrum became a potent weapon, with increasing pressure being exercised at the breakdown.

The Bristol club's players continually conceded penalties resulting in good field position and Darren Moore, impressive despite playing out of position at 10, slotted the opening kick with accuracy.

Penalties continued to be dished out but without any yellow cards, much to the annoyance of The Whiteway faithful as Ciren piled on the pressure.

After a sequence of scrums, the rejuvenated Neil Bunce crashed over from two yards with the extras added by Moore to put the hosts 10-0 up.

During this purple patch for the Red & Blacks, the powerful James Isaacs cruised over, after some great teamwork between the backs and forwards.

With the extras added that made it 17-0 to the hosts.

Avonmouth hit back with a penalty in front and this seemed to galvanise them . Kicking to the corner from a Ciren penalty infringement, they scored a deserved try from a powerful line-out drive to take the score to 17-10 at half-time.

The game became a tense affair in the second half with Avonmouth pressing hard, but the back row of Archie Doyle, Alex Hammond and newcomer Will Seville (at 7) tackling anything that moved.

Cirencester were also boosted by Will McCarthy playing his best game of the season, an in-form James Renowden being on top of his game and hooker Scott Brandreth seeming refreshed from his recent holiday.

In addition, 17-year-old No.9 James Firth impressed the coaches by playing as if he had been doing it for years at this level, with a range of intelligent passes and kicks which relieved pressure and set up attacks.

Others who can all be pleased with their contributions included Matt Berry, playing out of position in the centre, Luke Newman, Aaron Lockitt, Darren Stevens, and Dave Evans. Ciren sealed the 20-10 victory with another Moore penalty.

Director of rugby Andy Deacon said: “This home win is a massive morale boost for the team and proved that we can compete with sides in this league.

"This weekend we travel to Keynsham RFC in good heart."

Cirencester's 2nd XV lost 40-12 to Matson and the Colts gained an 8-5 victory over North Bristol on Sunday.