SOUTH WEST ONE WEST: Fly-half Matt Belbin made a highly encouraging debut as Avonmouth opened their South West One West campaign with a solid 25-5 home win over Yatton.

Belbin, a summer arrival from Thornbury, linked well with influential scrum-half Sean Leadbeater and also kicked with assurance in the tricky windy conditions, landing two penalties and two conversions.

Yatton were under so much pressure in the opening 40 minutes that they struggled to break out of their own half. But the visitors defended with great determination and it was not until the 29th minute that Avonmouth finally broke the deadlock, the busy Leadbeater taking a quick tap penalty just short of the line and diving over before Yatton could reorganise.

Belbin converted for the home side, who forged further clear with two more tries before the break. Skipper Grant Britton muscled his way over from close range after more sustained pressure and flanker Neil Holder, back with Avonmouth after a spell at Dings, also touched down after a catch-and-drive move, Belbin adding the extras for a 19-point lead.

Spurred on by head coach Will James, taking advantage of a rare Saturday off from his Premiership duties with Gloucester, Yatton looked a different side after the break.

The visitors stepped up several gears in the forwards and, helped by the yellow-carding of Holder for a handling offence, then had Avonmouth on the back foot.

But it was not until Holder's return to the field that Yatton deservedly finally got on the board, flanker Chris Harris charging down a Leadbeater clearance to pounce for an unconverted try.

Avonmouth managed to weather the storm, and two late Belbin penalties wrapped up a useful victory.

Head coach Wayne Hone, pictured below, said: "We're pleased with the win. It was a typical early-season match and there are a few things for us to work on, including fitness.

"The sin-binning threw us a bit and we never really got back in the game, but Yatton were very committed and came back well."

Mike Lowis made an instant impact on his return to Clevedon before hobbling off with an ankle injury in the convincing 27-8 home win over St Ives.

The full-back handled an aerial bombardment with ease and also looked dangerous going forward.

And Lowis was only denied a secondhalf touchdown because of a high tackle which resulted in a penalty try for his side, converted by Simon Johns.

Influential scrum-half Ashley Vailes had earlier given Clevedon the lead with a try before St Ives landed a penalty to make the half-time score 5-3.

The home side were guilty of wasting several clear try-scoring chances in the first period, but were more clinical after the turnaround.

Following the penalty try, Lowis' grubber kick through led to a try for left winger Grant Cherrington and replacement Ben Hazeldine slotted an important penalty to make it 20-3.

Saints rallied with a catch-and-drive try before Clevedon had the final word with a well-worked touchdown from replacement hooker Joe Williams.

Clevedon are now away on Saturday to St Mary's Old Boys, who opened their season with a 23-6 setback away to Chosen Hill.