Jack steers Barton Hill to the top

Fly-half Jack Steer booted 16 points as Barton Hill comfortably overcame Berry Hill 41-9 at home to make it two out of two and go top of Western Counties North.

Barts suffered a drubbing away to their rivals at the end of last season but were excellent value for this victory, which followed last week's comfortable success over Widden.

Winger Joe Samson put the Bristol side in front with a try converted by Steer, before Berry Hill replied with a penalty of their own.

Steer then landed a three-pointer, and although the visitors retaliated with two further penalties, Barts finished the half on top with veteran back-rower Steve Ireland crashing over for a try converted by Steer.

Winger Ross Baker got Barts on the board early in the second half, Steer again converting, and captain Sam Steer then claimed a touchdown which his younger brother converted before adding another penalty.

The final score came from Samson, whose terrific chip-and-chase effort was inevitably converted by Steer.

Three other teams are also two from two at this early stage.

Old Redcliffians are tucked in just behind Barton Hill after downing Hornets 45-8 while Thornbury are third after holding their nerve for a 23-21 home win over Burnham-on-Sea, having led by 23 points early in the second half.

Fly-half Tim Stephens was a key man for the South Gloucestershire outfit, converting tries from prop Jon Day and No 8 Tim Guzman and also adding three penalties for a personal haul of 13 points.

Fourth place is filled by Keynsham, who followed up their win away to Burnham last week with an eventful 18-16 home success over Drybrook.

Keynsham moved into an 18-11 lead on the hour thanks to a solo cross-field try from winger Russ Tanner, only for No 8 Rob Clyne to pull Drybrook back into contention against his old club with a well-worked unconverted touchdown from a line-out move.

The home side were then reduced to 14 men as flanker Tony Watts was sent to the sin-bin for foul play.

But with tension rising and the clock counting down, the match was held up because of a serious ankle injury suffered by a Drybrook forward, who could not be moved until an ambulance arrived.

The game was switched to an adjoining pitch, where Keynsham showed great character and determination to hold on for the final two minutes.

Scrum-half James Whetton had earlier claimed his side's first try, from a pick and drive move, Gareth Deere converting and then adding two penalties for a 10-3 lead.

Drybrook replied with a penalty and a try to lead 11-10 at the break, before winger Joe Blann's snap drop goal edged Keynsham back in front, setting up the dramatic finish.

Brothers and centre partners Greg and Anton Welling, meanwhile, made Southmead's 25-12 home success over Gordon League something of a family affair with a try apiece.

Full-back Leon Oakes also touched down while stand-off Rob Haddow slotted two conversions and two penalties as Southmead got off the mark following last week's reverse at Drybrook.

Bristol Harlequins meet Avonmouth tonight in the opening first-round match in the Charles Saunders Combination Cup, at the Portway Rugby Development Centre (7.30pm).

The seven remaining first-round matches will be played at the same venue on consecutive Tuesdays. Admission is free to all games.