Old Patesians – 28
Barnstaple – 27
Old Patesians snatched a dramatic win against Barnstaple in the last minute of a scrappy game to hold on to their diminishing aspirations for promotion from National League Three South West.
Barnstaple who were and still remain dangerously close to the relegation zone could have and should have won this encounter at Everest Road as their game management was solid and their style and flair in attack was far superior throughout than their hosts.
Pats continue to be shorn of their key first choice players with a mounting injury list that led to the introduction of players from their junior sides for a tough baptism at this level.
Pats had the distinct advantage of playing down the slope in the first half and with a reasonably stiff wind at their backs should have dominated territorially and secured enough possession to blow away the nightmare memories of their shock defeat against Redingensians on their last outing.
Barnstaple are a very ambitious club with a regular home gate of over a thousand supporters and with a substantial number travelling up from Devon they climbed into the Pats from the kick-off with great determination.
Pats were energetic in the early exchanges but their build up to moves was ponderous and despite winning a fair share of the ball they ignored good chances when the overlap was set up and, in general, their back division was lacking leadership and a cutting edge to open up the Barnstaple defence.
Pats did eventually break the stalemate when scrum half Geraint Davies found a god touch with a towering box kick and forced a line out deep in the right hand corner. Second row Gethin Evans poached the Barnstaple throw and right wing Henry Bird came through the line on an angle and at great pace for a try close to the posts, converted by fly-half James Butler.
Pats had taken the lead but they were not consistent with looping passes going to ground or behind the intended receiver and Barnstaple took charge.
Former Pats player, Nelly Webber, the Barnstaple scrum half made a dashing blindside break from a controlled maul close to the right touch and went over almost unopposed for a try in the corner, converted by centre Josh Squire.
Barnstaple were so excited that they had drawn level and their exuberance led to a collapse in discipline and Butler restored the Pats lead with an assured penalty goal.
Pats now settled into some kind of rhythm and Butler secured a penalty line-out deep in the right hand corner. Evans was majestic as he palmed off the top and when the ball was worked through the phases Bird went over for his second try and Butler obliged with the conversion.
Despite holding the lead Pats remained clumsy in attack and loose in defence and flanker Jake Kitson was yellow carded for hands in the ruck as the Barnstaple forwards drove for the line.
The visitors made the most of themissing link in the Pats defence and full back Mark Galliford was driven over for a well deserved try and Pats led by 17-12 at the break.
After the interval Pats endured some real pressure with Kitson still in the sin bin and now playing up the slope and into the wind. Their scrum, on their own feed, was ruptured and wheeled and Barnstaple awarded the turnover feed. Galliford launched a huge bomb that bounced and bobbled down the left touchline and wing Toby Williamson won the footrace for a touchdown to level the scores.
The game was held up for fifteen minutes when the Barnstaple number eight Jason Slade was clattered to the deck with suspected serious neck injury and the emergency services were called. The paramedics arrived and with ultra professional care and attention attended to the stricken player. Thankfully the injury was not too bad and Slade was helped back to the dressing room.
In the interim the referee had ordered the game to be relocated to the second team pitch but there was further delay at the discovery of dog faeces meant a bucket and spade had to be called for to remove the offending mounds of canine excreta.
Pats concentration suffered the most from the delay and Barnstaple took the lead with a second try for Galliford and a touchline conversion from Squire.
Pats were struggling to stay in contention but Butler was in excellent form with the boot and two penalty goals closed the gap to one point.
Barnstaple lost second row Gary Turner to the bin for swearing at the match official but Pats were still under the cosh.
Squire struck a penalty goal from just inside the halfway line and with a minute remaining the Pats seemed down and out.
Pats knew they had one last chance and blasted their way up the hill with good breaks from Bird and the feisty replacement Giles Potter to set up an attacking platform on the Barnstaple twenty two metre line. The ball went through several phases of pick and drive and then replacement wing Tom Law, on his debut for the first team, took the last desperate pass and shimmied over for the match winning try.
Pats had sneaked a win by the narrowest of margins and with five league games remaining reaching the play-off seems unlikely but not impossible.
Man of the Match: James Butler
By Bob Ellis
