Old Patesians 3rd XV 24 - 14 Stroud Nomads

The final league game of the season ended in another narrow defeat for Stroud writes Chris Skey.

Playing with the slope and breeze in the 1st half the Nomads failed to take the several opportunities that came their way. With Old Pats through their bigger pack maintaining plenty of possession, only good tackling especially by the Nomads back row Tom Flanagan, Matt Peachman and the evergreen Adam Tarplee making a rare appearance, stopped the Old Pats threequarters from scoring.

On several occasions Nomads wing Alex Powell made excellent ground and finally beat his wing on the outside and cut past the despairing tackle of the Old Pats full back to score under the posts, converted by centre Nathan Taylor.

Almost immediately the Old Pats forwards drove in to the Stroud 22 and their No 8 crashed through several tackles to score, which was converted. With time running out in the 1st half Nomads launched a driving maul into the 22 of Old Pats and from the ensuing melee wing forward Tom Flanagan scored the 2nd try for Stroud, converted by Nathan Taylor.

The second half was mainly played in the Nomads half with Old Pats using the breeze to good effect. With plenty of good possession they scored two quick tries through their speedy wings, both unconverted.

Sporadic threequarter moves by Stroud especially through centre Jamie Leworthy and Nathan Taylor petered out through lack of support, and two good chances were spurned by the Nomads. Old Pats wrapped the game up in the dying moments through a break away try, which was converted.

Although Nomads lost their last two games both narrowly, this has been an excellent season for a young side, with the Final of the Stroud Combination Cup to be played on Saturday 19th April at Painswick RFC against Fairford RFC KO 3.30pm