Old Patesians – 28
Cleve – 21
Travelling to Bristol seven players short due to county duties Pats showed their strength in depth as they proved too strong for their tough Mangotsfield based opponents. On a glorious sunny day the visitors took the home side by surprise with their pace and guile and when Elliot Corran was superbly lifted by Jordon Leonard and Jack Bell on the Cleve 5 metre line after just 2 mins of play clean ball for fly half Sam Colbert -Smith saw him punish the home sides sloppy defence with a darting run for a converted try. Shocked at the ferocity of Pats open style of play Cleve dug in but to no avail and turnover ball in midfield saw the ball swept wide to danger man Jonny White whose elusive running style was too much for the Cleve defence as he glided through from 50 metres out for a trade mark try which Colbert- Smith converted. From the kick off the visitors were once again the more alert side and when wing forward Jamie Delgado-Morgan saw a gap on the blind side he broke 3 tackles, stepped inside and raced under the posts for the try of the match taking the score to 0-21 after only 12mins of play. The home side rallied round and dominated possession for the remainder of the half with their superior forward power, Pats defence was twice breached before half time, a charging run from Cleve midfield and a poorly placed kick for territory produced 2 converted tries for the home side taking the score into half time 14 - 21 and it was once again "game on"
Cleve continued to press as the second half got under way but some poor handling saw a number of opportunities go begging. Pats raised their game and aggressive work in the tight from Seb Jackson, Isaac Derbyshire & Hugh Howes and a flowing movement through midfield took the visitors to 5 metres out and from a tap penalty it was once again Jamie Delgado-Morgan who was again the quickest thinker and he scooped up the ball and darted over for his second try which was converted by Colbert- Smith taking the score to 14-28. Pats faced a barrage of attack in the final quarter but aggressive defensive work held firm until finally Cleve's back line functioned and the ball was whipped across to the left wing for a superbly taken try which was converted with a magnificent touch line kick. Cleve finished the game camped out in the visitors 22 but well organised defence from skipper of the day Elliot Moore produced a hard fought victory making it 3 from 3 for the Everest Road side.
