Old Patesians vs Taunton

Old Patesians – 0
Taunton –14

Referee – Simon Lane

Old Patesians suffered their second defeat in their National Three South West campaign against table toppers Taunton on the greasy slopes of Everest Road.

Ambitious and prosperous Taunton have scoured the West Country for the cream of the crop and have secured a talented unit who are well drilled, robustly competitive and well paid for their efforts. Pats, on the other hand, play for the love of the game, their mates, their shirt, their club and gave the Somerset outfit a severe test.

Pats kicked off down the hill in drizzly gloom and it was immediately evident that Taunton had done their homework on how to master the vagaries of the pitch. They collected safely and with control and discipline drove Pats into the top right hand corner. Their technique was old fashioned but highly effective with the ball carrier shielded at the read of dynamic marching mauls and only released to the potent threat of the three-quarters when the goal line was sniffed.

Pats defended with huge endeavour but with so little possession in the early exchanges they had few chances to counter and exploit the advantages of playing down the slope.. Pats broke free from the stranglehold on a few occasions with muscular darts through the midfield from Steve Bryant and Barney Pascall but Taunton were merciless in the tackle and too easily won turn over ball.

As the game entered the second quarter Pats player/coach Rob Fidler, a considerable force in the line-out and loose was yellow carded for entering the mail on the side and Taunton took immediate advantage . They waived the change of three points from a simple penalty kick in-front of the posts and opted for a scrum a few metres out from the goal line. Pats, with a man down, could not handle the eight man shove and Taunton skipper, number eight Nick Burnett claimed the push over try. Full back Sam Saunders converted and the came the defining moment in the game.

From the restart Pats hooker Matt Deacon was sent to the sin-bin for kicking the ball away after the whistle was blown. Pats with two key players in the sin-bin desperately defended their line but the Taunton were awarded a penalty try for an offence that was indiscernible to most of the big crowd. Saunders slotted the conversion and Taunton led by 14 points at the break.

After the interval Pats enjoyed a ten minute purple patch. Up the hill, against the wind and rain they hammered into the visitors danger zone. Time and time again their pick and drives took them mouth wateringly close to the try line but the Taunton defence was rock solid and their was no way through.

Taunton survived the Pats temporary revival and then took control in the tight. Pats scrummagers were tiring fast and they were unceremoniously wheeled or driven off their own feed. Scrum-half Bruce Fenley did tremendously well at the base of the backpedalling mess to get the ball away to fly-half Adam Seager but it was desperate stuff.

As the game drew to a close Taunton were very aware that they had failed to score in the second half and but for a brace of dubious yellow cards in the first half could have been travelling back down the M5 losers. Pats remain in second place in the table and can be proud of their efforts against their professional opponents.

By Bob Ellis

Man of the match – Nick Burnett