New shirts and new faces provided Pats with the perfect start to the season as they swept aside new arrivals from the league above in a 13 try to nil demolition

Last season’s Counties 2 Gloucestershire runners up looked odds on favourites when their younger, larger and fitter looking side took to the field to face the famous Everest Road slope

It was all Pats from the off as they dominated territory and possession, within minutes Will Sanderson celebrated his 24th birthday when he crashed over the whitewash from a scrum won against the head. Skipper Sam Rhymes nudged over the extras and within minutes of the restart a blistering run from Ben Davies took the home side to within 10 meters and Max Folkard’s power made it 14 nil after only 7 minutes of play.

The athleticism and accuracy of Pats play was simply too much for the Forest of Dean men, Sanderson, Max Mosley and recently returned to Pats George Jewell dominated at line out time starving the foresters of any possession.

Powerful forwards Joe Hart and James Macintosh added two more tries to bring up the bonus point halfway through first 40 minutes putting the game was out of site at 26-0
Then came the try of the match, open-side Archie Long was never far from the ball and when he broke free from another scrum won against the head he accelerated upfield finding Charlie Payne and Lucas Town to his left and it was omnipresent Long who was there to finish off a scintillating move for Pats fifth try converted by Rhymes.

Folkard was enjoying copious amounts of ball in hand and it was the the seasoned front rower who helped himself to his brace and with Rhymes bringing his kicking boots it was 38-0 with 5 minutes to to half time.

With Pats slackening off, it was the visitors who finished the stronger, combining forwards with backs they tested the home side’s defence which proved to be impenetrable as the half time whistle blew.

Head Coach Chris Downes insisted on a ruthless approach to the second half with captain Rhymes insisting on no let up

Within seconds of the kick off, returning from injury, replacement Charlie Maker was on a typical charge for the line for what looked a certain try but his pass inside went awry. Last seasons top try scorer Joe McDean was keen to get involved in the try feast but was held up short.

It was speedster McDean again who received a pass on Pats 22 and scintillating jinking run saw him evade countless tacklers to sprint 75 meters to dab down between the posts. McDean was on fire, another mesmerising run from deep out paced everyone and an intelligent pass inside put the ubiquitous Archie Long away for his brace. The siege on the Berry Hill line continued, another Mcdean break made it a brace.

The intelligent boot of Lucas Town probed towards the corner for his impressive center partner Davies to scoop up at pace to find full back Oli French out wide at full tilt for a superbly created try.

Fittingly it was Long who rounded of an impressive display of fast open running rugby by collecting his hat trick, completing an outstanding personal performance

Norman Bell