Difficult decision Pats opt to relegate their first XV
OLD Patesians have made the “very difficult decision” to relegate themselves at first team level this season.
Pats were due to play in the Regional 2 Severn league in the newly re-organised league set-up, but their first team will now play in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North.
In a statement on their club’s website, the Everest Road club’s chairman Matt Cape wrote: “This has been a very hard decision which has been taken with great sadness but with a genuine focus on doing the right thing for the club, players and members to allow us to build a brighter future.
“The focus since the end of the last rugby season has been to strengthen the senior playing squad to provide a very young group of exciting players, many of whom have been at Old Pats since they were at junior school, with support and guidance from a small group of experienced players.
“The local rugby landscape is very competitive with many clubs seeking to secure the services of the best players in the county.
“It has become apparent to all involved that the Old Pats’ aim of strengthening the squad will not be achieved in the short-term and the reality is that a number of players have decided to accept offers from other clubs.
“We are a community rugby club that exists to enable the players we develop as juniors to reach their potential and gain the benefits achieved when playing the amazing team sport that rugby is.
“Achieving this outcome requires a safe environment which encourages participation and delivers enjoyment.
“It has become clear that expecting young players to safely and successfully compete at Level 6 is unrealistic and asking them to do so would put their safety at risk and result in reduced participation and potential injury. This is not something that as a club we are willing to do.”
Cape added that the club entered into “open constructive dialogue” with both the GRFU and the RFU to explore
the options available to the club.
“Sadly the only two options were to carry on and hope that by some miracle the strength of the squad improves, or to move down the league structure to play at Level 9 with the second team at Level 10,” Cape wrote.
“Whilst neither of these is an ideal solution we have agreed with the GRFU and RFU that the safest option is to, reluctantly and with sadness, request a league re-alignment to Level 9 and this is what we have done.”
Cape added that the reality is that Pats “do not currently have the infrastructure or ability to successfully compete at Level 6.”
He added: “We will focus all our efforts on learning the lessons from the past and creating an environment that will enable the club and the players to build and develop in a sustainable way to climb the league structure and deliver success on and off the pitch.
“The club is financially very secure and has a fantastic junior section which has proven that it has the ability to develop players who wear the shirt with pride and have the capability to develop even further.
“We will work to support them and successfully build the club back to a higher level over time.”
Their new-look side started life in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North with a convincing 25-10 win over Matson II at Everest Road
Playing up the slope with a brisk wind in their faces it was 15 minutes
before the deadlock was broken.
James Macintosh plucked Joe Dike’s pinpoint line out throw from the skies and found Ben Smith who flicked a pass to veteran Chris Downes, who found Archie Long in the centre, and he released George Wheatley for a wellworked opening try.
Smith slotted a long range penalty but poor tackling from the home side allowed Matson back into the game with a converted try wide out.
Pats tight five were rampant with Macintosh, Charlie Maker and Joe Hart causing havoc, charging through a dogged Matson defence.
The siege gun boot of Matson’s experienced fly half pinned Pats back but the Everest Road men were always faster to the breakdown, but, poor finishing let two certain tries go begging and half-time loomed with nothing in it at 8-7
Intelligent kicking from experienced Downes and Smith pinned the visitors into their 22 and when Maker was found with an inside pass by Long, he powered through four tacklers for a remarkable try, converted by Ben Smith.
Matson rallied with a penalty after Pats were marched backwards 20 metres through poor discipline
A well-worked line out drive served up quick ball from the ensuing ruck and slick hands through the Pats young back line saw Matthew Parker race over for a try converted by Smith to round off a convincing victory.