In spite of mother nature’s best efforts to spoil the party, the long awaited top of the table clash went ahead as planned, albeit at a switched location to the all-weather pitch at Oxtalls in Gloucester with Everest Road resembling the lake district.

With both sides in contention for the league title the huge crowd were treaded to a sparkling display of all out attacking rugby, it was the home side who made the perfect start when early pressure on their line saw a Stroud clearance kick miss touch and a horrible bounce found Olie French at pace who opened the scores with a try in the left corner, with less than a minute on the clock.

Pats made it 12 nil when, ever alert Archie Long pounced on a Stroud midfield fumble to crash over between the posts with Sam Rhymes adding the extras. Commanding territory and possession the young Pats thrived on the ideal playing surface going close with Jonny Fenley, Oli French and the outstanding Jamie Thorley finding defensive gaps, a head high tackle on the stroud 22 gave Rhymes the chance to nudge over for three points from the ensuing penalty.

Stroud’s powerful and elusive centre Sam Leworthy was instrumental throughout with probing runs from deep and miss move variations unlocking the home side’s defence. A mid field mix up produced a dog leg in Pats line and Leworthy took his chance to break and put Peter Sykes away to sprint home in the visitors first attacking opportunity.

Maintaining the high paced tempo, the Pats marauding backrow trio of Charlie Maker, Jack Nelson and omnipresent Archie Long applied pressure on the ball and were menacing at the breakdown allowing Stroud precious little time in possession.

Pats notched up another seven pointer when a six phase driving maul produced clean possession for Nathan Burtwell to crash over from short range. With Pats enjoying 65% possession and territory and seemingly in command the impressive Leworthy knew opportunities were scare when seizing the ball 15 meters out he somehow wriggled and powered over through countless tacklers for a remarkable try making it 22-14 at the halftime break.

An early second half penalty for the visitors narrowed the margin but Rhymes hit back with a three pointer when Stroud were found offside following a sustained Pats threequarters attack. James McIntosh was driven over by his pack for a the bonus point try converted by Sam Rhymes.

Thorley saw yellow when a miss timed tackle upended Sykes and the key play maker trudged off to the sin bin but the 14 men sustained the 10 minutes adding insult to injury when Sam Rhymes collected from the base of a 5 meters scrum slick handling found French out wide to collect his brace converted by Rhymes making it 39-17 with 15 minutes to play.

 A bonus point try remained in the visitor’s sights as they upped their game, a rolling mauled advanced Stroud to withing 5 meters and from a scrum Spike Parsons caught Pats napping and nipped over between the posts for a typical scrum half poachers try. Sensing that an upset could be on the cards Stroud ferociously pounded the Pats line and got their just rewards with a bonus point try from Kieran Rudway converted by Leworthy making it 39-29 with 8 minutes to play.

Keeping their cool the Pats youngsters controlled possession as clock wound down giving the Cheltenham outfit a well-deserved victory as they prepare to face Fairford away on the 8^thof April knowing that four points will secure the title.

Norman Bell (With a little help from his friends)