Pats win thriller to set up a league decider with League
» OLD Patesians and Gordon League will face off for the Counties 2 Gloucestershire North title on Saturday after Pats beat Cheltenham North 51-45 at Newlands Park in a thrilling 13-try contest.
The win leaves them four points behind League going into Saturday’s game at Everest Road, with Pats needing to win, while denying League a bonus point, to take the title.
Pats opened the scoring as skipper Sam Rhymes fired out a long pass to Johnny Fenley (pictured), who dabbed down in the corner from 30 metres out.
Jack Hamilton kept the scoreboard ticking over with a powerful charge to the line for a try close to the uprights, for Rhymes to convert.
A third try came from prop Joe Hart, Rhymes chipping over the conversion before Fenley scooped up his brace with an individual break from deep for the bonus point and a 24-0 lead.
But North’s Fijian style of play of running from deep and keeping the ball alive paid off when Simanu Tusiga broke free from a scrum to sprint 40 metres for a try.
From the restart Atama Susu charged up field for a try, converted by Sam Coles, then a superb move saw Aminiasi Utamali finish off a fine length of the field for a converted try and the deficit was cut to 24-21.
Pats answered with a converted try following a jinking run from Joe Mcdean, and Rhymes slotted a penalty opening up 34-21 lead.
North’s giant second row Manasa Bole crashed over for a converted try, but Mcdean responded with another brilliant solo effort from halfway between the posts for Rhymes to convert.
North’s Napoloioni Kore came on and scored their fifth try and when Tom Nolan found a gap to make it six, the red and blacks took the lead with five minutes to play.
Rhymes thumped a goal from 40 metres leaving Pats with a one-point deficit at 45-44, but Fenley completed his hat-trick running the length of the pitch for a sensational try for Rhymes to convert.
The league winners will meet the winners of Counties 2 Gloucestershire South in a play-off for promotion - and Bream will clinch the title if they win at Bristol Saracens on Saturday.
They lead by a point from Dings Crusaders II after being given a walkover by Whitehall on Saturday.
Berry Hill lost 48-18 at Old Colstonians, Chris Price and Josh Element with their tries, Sam Rees converting one and Ben Element kicking two penalties.
Holders Bream are in the final of the Forest of Dean Combination Junior Cup after a 36-7 win over Lydney United in the Forest of Dean Combination Junior Cup quarter-final.
Frazer Montague, Ben Jones, Liam Brady (two), Elliot Teague and Zac Peacey scored their tries with Jayden Hardy converting two and Jones one.
Bream were drawn with a bye in the semi-final, so automatically go into the final.
Their second XV won 42-12 at Westbury on Severn in Minor Cup quarter-final with tries for Dan Lewis, Kiran James, Dan Annetts, Hayden Robins, Sam Stenner and Charlie Peacey, Ollie Thomas with a penalty and three conversions and Peacey with a conversion.