Charismatic head coach Chris Downes sent his young squad out in their brightly coloured away kit, lightening the mood and emphasising that Pats rugby is all about enjoyment, it certainly was as they ran in 17 tries in an exhibition of accurate fast-running rugby at Everest Road.

With a little too much partying at kick-off time Pats lacked focus and several handling errors found them 0-5 down in a matter of minutes raising the odd eyebrow or two amongst the supporters.

That was to be the last of it though as the try fest commenced, a typical Charlie Maker break up the slope made 40 meters before finding Sam Rhymes on his shoulder who committed the last defender before putting Jonny Fenley in for his first converted by Lucas Town who went on to have an excellent day converting almost everything. Another forwards charge saw James Mcintosh make good ground before finding Wyatt Dundas to open his account finishing in style between the posts. Minchinhampton worked the ball out wide but a fumble gave aptly named arch-poacher Archie Long a chance to show off his soccer skills hoofing ahead from halfway for Fenley to pounce on for his brace.

Pats marauding back row of Long, Maker, and Jack Nelson dominated the breakdowns, turning the ball over at will, and with so much possession and territory a completely one-sided affair ensued. Nelson charged from halfway to put James Macintosh in, a simple set piece in front of the posts saw Josh Lawrence stroll home from short range and a sweeping move found Fenley at pace who put his partner Wyatt in to make it 49-5 as the halftime whilst blew.

A shortened kickoff down the slope saw Pats first to the ball to collect and whip out wide through the centre pairing of Dundas & Town for another Fenley try and his hattrick. Joe Mcdean came on and rapidly helped himself to an astonishingly fast hattrick in a demonstration that you simply cannot beat real pace, prop Joe Hart rubbed salt in Minchinhampton’s wounds getting the front row in on the act with a burst to the line from his 22.

By now the totally demoralised lads from Rodborough Common showed little resistance allowing Pats to run riot with further try’s from Rhymes, George Warley, and another two for Fenley completing an outstanding performance of clinical finishing for the youngster.

In a rescheduled fixture Pats travel to Minchinhampton next Saturday which the home side will no doubt be dreading in this completely mismatched fixture.

Norman Bell

(Posted by Laurence Hale)