Old Patesians vs Cleve

Old Patesians – 28
Cleve – 15

Referee – Foley
Old Patesians had to work really hard to win against Cleve in their National Three South West encounter at Everest Road. The pitch was in remarkable condition considering the recent foul weather and Pats won the toss and elected to play up the slope.

Within minutes of the kick-off they had Cleve camped in the top left hand corner and from a penalty line-out they executed a muscular catch and drive and hooker Ollie Smith dived over for the try converted by fly-half Nellie Webber.

Cleve, lying seventh in the table were stung by this early reversal but they are a very combative unit and with eight wins under their belts and some new recruits were determined to give second placed Pats a hard time. Despite their best endeavours they could not contain the Pats rampant forwards in the first quarter who time and time again drove up the greasy hill and established camp deep in the red zone. From another penalty line-out player/coach Rob Fidler majestically palmed to scrum half Geraint Davies and when the ball was released to Barney Pascall was over the white wash in a flash for a good try, converted by Webber.

Pats primary source of possession from a set piece was their exemplary line-out with Fidler, Bret Harvey and Duncan Kelly so assured with clinically clean two handed catches that Cleve soon gave up any challenge when their hosts had the throw-in. Hooker Smith was the key in their line-out domination with his pin point precision on the throw to find his man.

Cleve were marginally the better scummagers and Pats experienced some early difficulties when the squeeze came through and Davies was nearly always under pressure to clear the ball on his own feed.

Pats attackers became more sporadic despite their control of the line-out and adequate possession in the loose and their three-quarters grew impatient. Too often they were penalised for not releasing in the tackle situation and the Cleve fly-half Jack Fletcher earned good territory with some thumping touch kicks into the right hand corner.

Pats fell offside in retreat and from a quick tap number eight Sam Roach was driven over for a sharp try converted by winger Ben Loosemore. Cleve by now had come to terms with the vagaries of playing down the slope ad it was the Pats turn to be locked deep in their 22. Their defence stood the test and Cleve were frustrated and exasperated to see their influential second row Mark Parry sent to the sin-bin for a team offence for persistent infringement at the breakdown. Cleve lost their impetus but Loosemore added a penalty goal and Pats led by 14 to 10 at the break.

After the interval pats spent most of the third quarter deep in their opponents half but such was the tenacity of the Cleve defence and in particularly their back row they could not find a way through. Play surged back and forth on the Cleve five metre line as Pats recycled through umpteen phases and a series of attacking scrums. Their efforts were eventually rewarded with a penalty try when referee Mr Foley grew tired of Cleve collapsing the maul. Webber added the extras but Pats were hardly deserving of this soft score when they had squandered so many chances through unforced errors.

They redeemed themselves with a huge drive from the Cleve 22 with their backs leading lending their weight to the shove and Davies claimed the push over try converted by Webber.

Pats had a more than comfortable lead, had gained a bonus point then went to sleep. Cleve had a fifteen minute purple patch and played up the slope with heart and conviction They lost prop Dan Cox to the sin-bin for killing the ball but secured the best try of the game when Loosemore finished off a superb handling move with a try in the top left hand corner.

In previous campaigns Pats might have folded under the intense pressure but they are now too streetwise for that calamity and they held their discipline and composure for a hard fought victory.

By Bob Ellis

Man of the match – Ollie Smith