With no game for Chosen Hill’s 1st XV, Pats overcame a strong second string side in the local derby to stay top of Counties 3 Gloucestershire North League in a nail biting toe to toe battle under glorious autumn sunshine at Churchdown.

Facing a stiff breeze the visitors remained camped in their own half with Andrew King’s probing kicks pining them in their 22 but with possession equal it was dogged defence from Pats front five that kept the home side at bay.

Pats seized their limited opportunities well and when wily Ben Smith executed a perfect grubber kick down the touchline and retrieving possession he found powerful Charlie Maker on a bulldozing charge to dab down converting his own try.

Pats mobile pack were rampant driving up the middle and when the men in green were found offside on halfway it was Maker who made the long range penalty into the wind look easy. The home side responded with a series of driving mauls with Dan Probyn forcing his way over for an unconverted try wide out.

With George Bygrave, Kyren Dillon and George Warley fielding the high bombs with aplomb Pats enjoyed ample possession choosing to run the ball from deep and when young tighthead prop Joe Harte collected in his 22 he showed remarkable athleticism breaking tackles and dancing his way up to halfway keeping the ball alive for his marauding back row with Archie Long and Jack Harvey ever prominent.

Smith’s intelligent boot found Will Sanderson who plucked the ball from the sky to find Warley on a mesmerising run before putting speedster Joe Mcdean in for a try under the crossbar with Maker converting as halftime loomed.

Chosen Hill made it 12-17 from the kick off when bulky centre Max Randell charged through lack lustre Pats tackling and it was game on. Smith’s outrageous cross kick to Warley found Chosen Hill napping as he collected and raced over from 40 meters to open up a 10 points gap but the home side were having none of it as Malavi Mills hit back with a converted try between the posts.

With neither side giving an inch the game was up for grabs and when the athletic Sanderson powered over from 30 meters for a converted try Pats smelt victory but Chosen Hill responded quickly making it 26-29 as the tension mounted.

A Maker penalty meant a converted try was needed for a home win but Pats robust defence held out against a sustained onslaught to claim a hard fought victory

Norman Bell