Resting a handful of first choice selections, the league leaders travelled to bottom of the table Old Cryptians with the Gloucester outfit in search of their first win of the season, but it wasn’t to be as Pats notched up ten tries with both wingers scoring a hat trick in a second half demolition at the memorial ground

It was Cryptians who set the early pace with the home side dominating possession and territory for the first 15 minutes, going close with wave after wave of forwards charges and showing disciplined ball retention skills.

The relentless pressure on the Pats line saw the penalty count soar and showing courage and enterprise Cryptians kicked to the corners pinning Pats in their 22 and the onslaught continued

A try seemed certain to come but remarkably the visitor’s well organised and dogged defence frustrated the attack keeping the scores at 0-0

With literally their first possession of the match, Pats won clean line out ball and with the simplest of moves scrum half Sam Rhymes found Lucas a Town at pace and slick midfield handling found Olie Stevens out wide who raced home from 30 meters unopposed.

Minutes later an identical play put winger Joe McDean in but the last pass went begging.

Making the most of limited possession Pats attacked from deep but almost forcing the play they left at least three more clear try scoring opportunities out there as the final passes lacked accuracy

Finally, another clean line out from Pats saw Stevens collect his brace in a move which was a mirror image of his first try, Rhymes nudged over the extras.

Open-side Archie Long stole line out ball and set off on a charge finding powerful Jack Hamilton on his shoulder who bulldozed through three tacklers for Pats third

With limited possession and territory and nowhere near out of first gear, the visitors found themselves 0-17 up after a nonchalant and lack lustre first half performance, the frustrated home side contemplated what might have been had they been able to convert early pressure into points.

A half time call for a higher level of intensity, energy and passion from head coach Chris Downes paid off as the second half got underway.
In the first minute another slick line out take set the back line in motion and with McDean coming off his wing to pop up out wide creating the overlap, he put Stevens away for his hat trick and the bonus point with Rhymes doing the honours.

Clearly Pats had found another gear and the floodgates opened, another Stevens break found omnipresent Long on his shoulder for typical supporting back row try converted by Rhymes.

McDean mesmerised the defence skinning would be tacklers as he out paced them all running in from halfway, replacement front row Toby Atkinson helped himself to a try on his debut after a rolling maul to the line.
It was all Pats now as minutes later powerful second row Will Sanderson charged upfield to find Jack Hamilton and there was no stopping the big man from short range.

Always looking for work, McDean rounded off a fine individual performance, excellent finishing skills saw him seize two late tries to match opposite winger Stevens hat trick

Rhymes brought up the 60 mark and with 43 unanswered points in the second half, the league leaders threw down the gauntlet as they prepare to travel to Cheltenham rivals Smiths for what promises to be an absorbing encounter on Saturday 14th October with the contest reaching boiling point with all six top teams facing each other on the same day !

Allez les Pats!

Norman Bell