Old Patesians vs Chinnor

Old Patesians – 3
Chinnor – 44

Referee – Shane Lewis

A weakened Pats side suffered their heaviest defeat for a long time against a strong Chinnor side whose dominance in all phases of play belied their league position.

With three key forwards absent, plus losing James Stickland and flanker Jake Kitson injured during the game, Pats were ill-equipped to cope with Chinnor’s powerful and mobile eight.

Clinical rucking and quick ball from the breakdown set the visitors’ backs up for a hatful of tries. Starting up the Everest Road slope held no fears and after squandering a golden chance on four minutes they made amends ten minutes later benefiting from a wheeled scrum which put Pats’ back row on the blind side while centre Ben Hewitt sped across a wrong-footed defence, offloading for winger James Serrano to score wide out.

Pats fought back with a penalty goal from full back James Markey before Chinnor flanker Adam Hastings repeated the flat run across a hesitant defence to give fly half James Cathcart an easy conversion. Pats tried to take advantage of the slope and pounded the Chinnor line. Twice they forced over and were unlucky not to ground the ball to the referee’s satisfaction. Immediately Chinnor turned from stonewall defence to lightning attack, surging upfield with centre Sam Stoop crabbing across an uncommitted defence to score. Cathcart ended the half with a penalty goal to stretch the interval lead to 20-3.

Having lost Stickland just before half-time further disaster struck Pats when influential prop Chris Downes was sent off for illegal use of the boot. Nothing daunted Pats drove upfield and again laid siege five metres out but they couldn’t retain possession and composure and Chinnor cleared their line with a penalty.

When the positions were reversed, Chinnor drove Pats back for a pushover try credited to number eight Liam Gilbert. Pats had their share of possession and there was no questioning their determination but Chinnor’s defence was exceptional.

Play was then halted for 45 minutes when Kitson sustained a badly broken ankle and the teams returned to the dressing rooms. On the resumption Chinnor carried on where they had left off, keeping up a relentless flow by offloading before contact was made. Pats’ attempts to get into the game were hampered by an efficient street-wise side who teetered successfully on the off-side line and snuffed out attacks as they began.

Playing a man short began to tell in the final quarter. Cathcart notched up another penalty and when play was switched to the open-side Serrano made a strong run in for his second try.

Shortly after Stoop angled a meandering run through broken play for the final try. Cathcart improved both to complete a comprehensive 44-3 victory. Pats should have had the last word when prompted by scrum half Geraint Davies they penetrated Chinnor’s 22. But just when a try in the corner seemed certain the final pass missed its intended recipient and went into touch. It summed up Pats’ afternoon, one they will want to learn from and then forget.

By Bob Ellis

Man of the match – James Cathcart