20

21

The skies cleared on cue over Everest Road and in spite of the waterlogged pitch Pats set about playing their trademark expansive game with Max Folkard collecting from the kick off charging up to halfway and setting the tone for the first half.

Enjoying possession and territory the home side went close on several occasions early on with darting runs from elusive scrum half Jack Donaldson and the intelligent boot of Charlie Maker kept the visitors in their 22.

With no game for their 1st XV Pats faced a very strong Chosen Hill side with the experience partnership of Daniel Yeates and Andrew King combining well at half back to gain territory, the first scrum of the match saw the visitors open the scores with a classic pushover try against the run of play for King to convert.

Indignant at the ease with which the men in green took the lead Pats launched a sustained attack with the ball swinging from left to right with penetrating runs from George Bygrave, George Warley and the exciting newcomer Jamie Thornley.

A scorching Donaldson break from deep caught the visitors napping and it was Thornley who was on his shoulder to pick up the spoils for an unconverted try. The home side sensed they had the advantage with their three quarters dancing their way up the slope but dogged defence and handling errors saw scoring chances go begging.

After retaining possession for twelves phases Pats switched to forward power with a succession of driving mauls but came up short but when Donaldson flung a pass to his 10 Josh Lawrence in space he linked with Thornley who unselfishly put speedster Joe MacDean in out wide to touchdown but once again the extras were missed.

As half time loomed Chosen Hill’s powerful pack pushed the home side off the ball for Yeates to scoop up at the base of a scrum and score with ease for King to convert making it 17-14 at the interval, in spite of Pats dominance of territory and possession it was anybody’s game.

Playing down the slope Pats spent most of the second half in the visitors territory with probing kicks from Charlie Maker, Donaldson and Lawrence, a Thornley interception almost produced a clear run in only to lose his footing in the difficult underfoot conditions, a series of forward passes let the visitors off the hook and on three occasions Pats were in front to the kicker when receiving a kick pass out wide for a certain score.

An altercation saw Folkard stand his ground whilst both sides piled in but it was King who was judged as the protagonist and was shown a red card. Finally Maker’s power secured the bonus point with a bullocking run from short range but once again the conversion was crucially missed.

The men in green charged up the hill with an impressive display of mauling with Hyam Simon, James Edwards and former Pats Colt Rob Panting showing well. Once again the visitor’s scrum proved too much for the Everest Road youngsters as they powered over for another pushover try to make it three converted tries to Pats four with one conversion.

In a tense five minutes the visitors sensed an opportunity to steal the win but Pats were determined to hold on and their well organised defence completing their return to league rugby with a bonus point win securing forth place with two games in hand.

Norman Bell