Old Patesians - 25
Chinnor - 45
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
A spirited and much improved performance from the Old Patesians just failed to contain unbeaten, second placed Chinnor in National League Three South.
The match at Kingsey Road was played on rock hard ground in almost insufferable heat and the call for the water carriers was the order of the day at every available opportunity.
Pats started well with fill-in kicker, centre George Hughes stroking over a penalty goal in the first minute but Chinnor are a dangerous attacking unit and the Pats defence faced a stiff examination in the early exchanges.
They were well battered for most of the first quarter but just about held their own at scrum, line-out and at the breakdown and fly half Matt Dean returned searching high balls to secure some really good touch finds.
Chinnor lost blindside wing forward Tom Mowbray to the sin bin for a reckless high tackle on Pats right wing Dan Burrows who was knocked unconscious in the incident. An ambulance was summoned and the player was taken to nearby Stoke Mandeville Hospital in a very groggy state.
Play continued at a frenetic pace with both sides seeking any evidence of a weakness in their opponents line-up and it was the Pats who eventually conceded under the non-stop pressure.
Chinnor Number Eight Liam Gilbert, ex-Captain of Salisbury, palmed clean line-out ball at the tail and dynamic outside centre Matt Goode crashed through the midfield for a try converted by fly half James Cathcart.
Pats second row stalwart Rob Fidler is a splendid line-out jumper, talismanic pack leader and a superlative expert at counter rucking but his kicking skills are severely limited. Fortunately, the Pats full back Danny Davis saved his blushes from a clumsy grubber with a great pick up and a dancing, weaving run which saw him go close to the line.
James Pettigrew, Pats Number Eight, restored to the first team was adjudged to have made a high tackle and his indiscretion was punished by a Cathcart penalty goal.
Pats line-out was wobbling a touch with all jumpers under challenging pressure and they were too often forced to flap and tap rather than catch and set.
They were somewhat lucky to recover their own ball from a line-out on the Chinnor five metre mark and a clever flick up the blind side from the ever aware scrum half Matt Mudway gave Pettigrew the chance to redeem his earlier illegality with a muscular try for Marcus Brown in the corner.
The half closed with a slender lead for the hosts by 10 points to 8 points but the Pats were still very much in the hunt.
After the break, Pats took charge with some excellent handling and surging route one carries from replacement Henry Tapsell, Fidler and flanker Ben Walsh. Chinnor capitulated and Dean went over close to the posts for a try converted by Hughes.
Pats had edged in front but Chinnor were fuming at the reversal in their fortunes and embarked on a five minute match winning demolition job.
They scored three tries all from the restart kick-offs and all through the midfield channel.
Scorers were Gilbert, winger Sam Stoop and a second for Goode. Cathcart converted all three and with the home team having secured a bonus point for their four try haul, Pats should have been dead and buried.
Not a bit of it and Pats showed just what they are made of when the chips are down.
Mudway led the resurgence with a scorching break from a tap penalty and left winger James Aherne scored in his corner.
Pats threw caution to the wind to chase the game and, of course, all out attacking ploys left them vulnerable and exposed to the counter.
Man of the Match Gilbert picked up his second try of the day which, in the absence of Cathcart, he cheekily converted himself.
Pats, not too despondent and still pumped up, hit back with a well thought try for Davis for a well deserved bonus point but time was running out.
Chinnor re-established their authority with a closing try by full back Mark Chase, converted by Gilbert and the exhausted players from both camps were mightily pleased to hear the final whistle.
Good news after the match was that the concussed Burrows had been released from hospital but now, under the strict RFU rules, must take a four week rest.
By Bob Ellis
