Weston Super Mare 13 - Old Patesians 32
Mar
This was not one of Weston’s better performances. Games against the Cheltenham team are rarely entertaining and this proved no different, although with a bit more composure, a little more commitment in certain positions and the “rub of the green”, the result could easily have gone the other way.
The Old Pats, who emanate originally as Old Boys of Pates Grammar School, took the lead with a well worked try after seven minutes when winger Tipps had an easy run in on the overlap following a quick ball in midfield. This was converted.
James Mackay replied with two penalties after 9 and 22 minutes to reduce the Weston arrears to 6-7, and that’s how it stayed until half time with neither side creating anything worthwhile and try lines rarely threatened.
The home side lost Smith to the sin bin after 43 minutes but the Pats were unable to benefit in the face of staunch defence, but the game livened up in controversial fashion after 59 minutes.
Weston had an attacking lineout 20 metres from the opposition line. The ball was won….and then kicked aimlessly over the forwards into the arms of a Pats defender who enterprisingly ran the ball from inside his 22. Good handling and chasing resulted in a scrum five yards from the Weston line. The first scrummage was indecisive but at the second attempt, referee Adam Friend awarded a penalty try, ostensibly for the ball being kicked out of the scrum although video evidence shows that the Patesians front row had stood up some seconds earlier which is of course a penalty offence. How the referee missed it is a mystery but the Weston players showed admirable restraint in the face of the travesty. 6-7 had suddenly and fortuitously become 6-14 to the visitors but to their credit, the home side responded with a try after 69 minutes.
The Pats dropped the ball in midfield , Weston hacked it on and Fry showed great speed in getting the touchdown. The try was converted. 13-14 and the game poised to go either way.
The visitors were awarded a penalty close enough for Seager to convert, leaving Weston needing a try but still within distance..
It didn’t happen as the home side self-destructed and the Pats had the last word when centre Mays, hardly a physical specimen, was inexplicably allowed to run through some non –existent tackling to score in the corner. He looked more surprised than anyone! Old Patesians obviously delighted. Weston disappointed at a sub standard performance and the crowd relieved that the game was finally over and that they could start to enjoy Saturday.
Team..Crichton, Middlemiss (Reid 7mins), Sanft, Bennett.S, Sprague, Mackay, Bennett R.
Price, Burge, Williams (Lavender 35mins), Kempton, Russell, Smith, Cook (Harris 72 mins), Fry.
