Avonmouth Old Boys 31
Old Patesians 29
A spirited second-half revival allowed Old Patesians to salvage two bonus points as they lost to Avonmouth Old Boys in National League Three South West, writes Bob Ellis
At kick-off Pats were safe from any relegation fears, but the home side were only one place above the drop zone and for them this was a must-win game.
Avonmouth's Barrack Lane pitch was dry, hard and flat and with only a slight zephyr of wind, the conditions were ideal for a fast, open running game.
Pats were more or less back to full strength, but their first-half performance was woefully inept as they failed time and again to construct any worthwhile moves to seriously threaten the home defence.
As usual, the Pats scrum was sound and second row Nathan Riley was comfortable in the lineout, even though he was always under pressure from the challenge of his opponents.
Pats were first to score, with a penalty goal from centre Brett Turner, but thereafter the half was dominated by their hosts with tactical nous, a feast of quality possession and unremitting territorial advantage.
Pats looked to their heavy ball-carriers in the form of number eight Henry Tapsell, second row James Pettigrew and skipper James King to get over the gain line, but the well-drilled Avonmouth defence was rock solid and far too easily won the turnover account at the breakdown.
Pats tried to exploit the wide open spaces on their flanks, but the pace on the ball was slow through the midfield hands and wingers Will Kane and James Butler were often static when in receipt and cut down before they were off their marks.
Avonmouth had so much possession ands control it was almost embarrassing, and their gifted backs cut Pats to shreds and exposed some dreadful lapses in defence.
Avonmouth scored three first-half tries through wingers Josh Krupa, Billy Reynolds and tight-head prop Grant Britton, all converted by fly-half Matt Belbin, and led 21-3 at half-time.
After the break, Pats reverted to their historical strength of no-nonsense forwards muscle with a series of pick and drives and patient recycling and Tapsell claimed a pushover try.
Pats centre Stu Taylor made a couple of his trademark line-straightening dashes through a tiring defence, but when he was stopped some indisciplined muttering from his team-mates directed at the referee gave Belpin a simple penalty goal chance in front of the posts.
Pats recovered their composure with a burst from Butler well supported by replacement James Pettigrew and prop Connor Thompson, which ended in a try for full-back Callum Kerr converted by Turner.
Pats were back in the hunt but then fiddled about and were caught cold and turned over in their own 22 and Belbin drifted through almost unopposed for a try he converted with a drop kick.
Pats bossed the final quarter with the forwards now in command and some super ground-gobbling touch finds from Turner forcing Avonmoth deep into their own half.
They sniffed an unlikely victory and impact replacement Pettigrew proved his worth with two tries, both converted by Turner, but time ran out for them score again.
Avonmouth Old Boys: G Britton, N Evans, A Sloman, T Templar, J Foss, D Lee. G Long, H Hone, C Power, M Belbin, J Krupa, S Thompson, G Collier, B Reynolds, C Reynolds. Replacements (all used under interchange rule): G Tomkins, S Palmer, B Souch.
Old Patesians: J King, S Shelton, C Thompson, J Stickland, J Stevens, N Riley, T Langton, H Tapsel, J Aherne, M Dean, W Kane, B Turner, S Taylor, J Butler, C Kerr. Replacements (all used under interchange rule): R White, J Pettigrew, C Stonier.
Referee: S Lane
Star man: Avonmouth scrum half Connor Power
