Old Patesians vs Reading

Old Patesians – 27
Reading– 0

Referee – Douglas Neagle

Old Patesians returned to their winning ways with a comfortable victory against Reading in the National Three South West match. The game was played in atrocious conditions with a gale force wind and driving rain glomming down the Everest Road slope from the brooding proximity of the Leckhampton Hill.

Pats kicked-off up the daunting incline into the teeth of the tempest and it was immediately obvious that this was no day for a running game. Ball retention was of paramount importance and the Pats were very aware that one false move or a fumble would allow for their determined visitors to exploit the benefits of the wind and slope.

Pats scrummaging was back to its efficient best with the return from injury of senior prop forward James King and he was a key player in their ‘keep the ball up the jumper’ game plan. Line-outs were a lottery in these conditions but the Pats threw short to King who regularly drove up short side to set up the attacking maul. He was only supported by hooker Matt Deacon and lock forward Rob Fidler who both revelled in the mud lark close encounters. Fidler has played at the highest level and his calm and consistent authority in the ruck, counter-ruck and maul has been instilled into his fellow forwards.

They responded with a series of dynamic driving mauls that had the Reading forwards desperately back peddling and losing their footing in the gelatinous mud. Three times the Pats drove over the reading five metre line and into the red zone but fumbles and loss of control denied them a score.

Reading lost their influential number eight Matt Davies to the sin bin for persistent infringement and Pats turned the screw. They pushed the Reading pack off their own scrum and skipper Adam Seager outstripped the defence for a well deserved team try. Pats had defied the elements and led by five points to nil at the break.

Reading are a good side and were desperately disappointed that they had failed to rack up any kind of score in the first half and began the second half well. They copied the Pats strategy with a controlled ten-man game, with the ball rarely moving beyond fly-half Tom Goodhew. They were disturbed when flanker Adam Veale was shown a yellow card for entering a maul on the side and Pats took advantage of the extra man with a try from winger Chris Howell.

Pats were now well on top but scrum-half Nelly Webber and Seager seamed particularly reluctant to kick for territory. Vociferous entreaties from coach Dave Pointon t use the boot eventually reached their ears and they bombed the visitors defence for the rest of the game.

However the Reading defence was excellent despite being clamped in their own 22 and they continually held off the Pats surges. Pats were guilty of not turning a glut of quality possession and their territorial domination into points until well into the final quarter.

Reading finally cracked and Pats scored tries through Webber, Seager and replacement Will Topps. Seager added a conversion and the Pats and their few frozen and drenched supporters were delighted with the win and another bonus point.

By Bob Ellis

Man of the match – Rob Fidler