Old Pats hold sway
On a very heavy and stodgy pitch Nomads were on the back foot from the outset writes Chris Skey.
A very well drilled Old Patesians side held sway throughout the first half. Stroud defended well but were unable to get any clean ball to disrupt the efficient play of the opposition. Old Pats scored their first try after their forwards had driven into the Nomads 22 and given their wing an easy run to the line, with the try being converted.
Old Pats continued to keep Nomads under constant pressure and it was no surprise when their threequarters once again cut through the Stroud defence to score their second try, again converted. Further possible scores were stopped by desperate defensive tackling by the Nomads players, but not before Old Pats kicked a penalty goal for offside.
With half time beckoning Nomads at last got out of their half with scrum half Joe Ashenford making a couple of darting runs, which however came to nothing. With Old Pats turning over the ball at every opportunity, from another forward drive they scored their third try, with the half time whistle coming as a relief to the Stroud side.
The team talk had an immediate effect on the Nomads side who camped in the Old Pats 22 from the kick off and several good line out catches by Ryan Kibble and Elliot Riedler allowed several driving mauls to get within inches of the try line. With the Stroud backs now getting a decent supply of ball a good break by fly half Jacob Marsh saw him cut through the Old Pats defence and score a try.
Stroud kept the pressure on and further good play nearly rewarded when Joe Ashenford made a super break from a scrum and with the line beckoning a try scoring pass was knocked on.
As the half wore on the Old Pats forwards re-asserted their forward dominance and took play back into the Stroud half and from there gave their backs the chance to score their fourth try, also converted. It was once again backs to the wall for the Stroud players for the last five minutes of the game.
A good defensive display by Nomads who were under extreme pressure throughout most of the game.
Next match 28th February 2015 v Smiths Industries (home) KO 2.30pm
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