Old Pats edge past Gensians

Sportsdesk • Published 30 Nov 2009 11:00 0 Comments

Gensians 15, Old Patesians 19

GENSIANS skipper Teddy Saunders was bitterly disappointed after this National Three South West defeat against his old club.

The former Old Pats prop believed Gensians presented the Cheltenham side with victory.

Saunders, standing in for Tom Clare as captain, said: "I felt their points came from our mistakes. I'm convinced we were the better side and should have taken four points from the game not one.

"I was pleased with the way we controlled the game in the second half and we are definitely improving.

"But we have to show more maturity and discipline and avoid these lapses of concentration."

Gensians' cause was not help by an injury to fly-half and kicker Spike Chandler, but Sid Matthews, who switched from scrum-half, did well.

However like the Cleve, Reading and Coney Hill encounters, this can be considered a match Gensians easily could have won.

A sixth minute Adam Seagar penalty for the visitors was cancelled out midway through the half by Chandler.

But two minutes later an interception on halfway paved the way for Pats' first try for scrum-half Bruce Fenley.

Gensians levelled on 33 minutes when a searing break down the wing by the No 8 Rob Stapley set up a try for Warren Abrahams.

The first three minutes of the second half proved crucial as the Old Bath Road men conceded two penalties, one of which was advanced into kickable range and handed the opposition three points. Seagar made no mistake on both occasions.

But the rest of the second half belonged territorially to Gensians with the only real threat from Pats coming on 58 minutes. Another turnover on halfway led to Henry Bird streaking away for a touchdown against the run of play.

On the hour a home try looked certain but Stapley's final pass to Abrahams was forward. Chances continued to be frittered away as Gensians' scrummaging and spirit put Pats on the back foot.

Gensians refused to give up and snatched a deserved bonus point in injury time when the referee handed them a rather dubious penalty try after a defender obstructed.

The Old Bath Road men slip to fourth place and more or less forfeit any chance of a play-off place. On the plus side they showed plenty of fire in a match that could have gone their way.

Gensians: Abrahams; Clements, Swadling, Reynolds, Flynn; Chandler (Dunn 21), Matthews; Saunders, Dewland (Clare 57), Baker; Randall (Hulland 47), C Davies; Watkins, Hopkins, Stapley.

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