With the sun beaming down over Fromehall Park the conditions were perfect for two young sides to play the kind of attacking rugby that would give the crowd their money’s worth.

The visitors looked sharp from the off enjoying copious amounts of possession and territory and choosing to run the ball from deep.

A sweeping move from right to left saw the impressive newcomer Cassius Davies Earle on a typical charge with ever-present Jack Nelson on his shoulder, but the offload to George Warley in acres of space was missed with a certain score going begging.

After eight minutes Sam Rhymes nudged over a penalty from 30 meters followed by another minutes later as the pressure forced infringements from the home side. The men in magenta and navy pounded the Stroud line and the penalty count soared, omnipresent

The referee then lost patience on the half-hour mark and a penalty try was awarded against Stroud for continuous offside offences.

The Pats dominated the set piece with the home side failing to win a single scrum throughout the match giving the visitors three-quarters the confidence to set up to attack against the head.

Relentless Pats pressure continued and when powerful Jack Harvey charged ahead he was not held and intelligently rose to his feet and ploughed on before finding speedster Jamie Thorley to round off the move with a try between the uprights for Rhyhms to convert on half-time.

A minute into the second half saw Pats Hooker Harry Legg barge over from a line-out maul converted by Rhymes. Minutes later Earles was held up short after a break down the right wing but Thorley was on hand to power over for his brace and the bonus point converted by Ryhmes.

With the game out of sight, the visitors piled on the pressure and it was Thorley again who crossed the whitewash for his hat trick after a superb break and kick ahead from debutant Sam Lomax.

An interception from bulky centre Sam Leaworthy saved the home side’s blushes when he rumbled over for a seven-pointer. Thorley was in outstanding form enjoying time and space, after a typical blistering break he put Jack Hamilton in for Pat’s sixth converted by Rhymes.

The home side rallied in search of the losing bonus point and looked more convincing as the game broke up, some loose Pats tackles saw Stroud scoop up two well-deserved late tries adding some respectability to the scoreboard.

The moment of the match came when Pats’ tough and tenacious winger Joe McDean denied Stroud’s player-coach Sam Hester the losing bonus point when he ripped the ball out of the bigger man’s grasp with a remarkable demonstration of strength as he was touching down between the posts

Pats entertain Old Richland at Everest Road next Saturday 30th September at 15.00

Allez les Pats!

Norman Bell