Old Patesians produced their best performance of the season to stun title-chasing Frampton Cotterell in Counties 2 Gloucestershire.

They won 14-12 in south Gloucestershire to secure their sixth win of the league campaign, a win that lifts them up to seventh in the 12-strong division.

“It was an amazing win, absolutely amazing,” said head coach Chris Raymond. 

“We’ve been expecting it. We’ve been playing really well for parts of games but we’ve never done it for a whole game.”

The Pats were beaten 22-15 by Frampton Cotterell in another close game back in October and Raymond continued: “We should have got at least a draw against them, so this was revenge.”

Josh Preston and Harry Elrington were their two try-scorers on Saturday – Evan Littlewood slotted the conversions – as the Pats went into half-time with a 14-7 lead.

“It was a forwards game, it was a really wet, muddy pitch,” Raymond added. “I said to the boys at half-time that this had the makings of our best performance of the season and it definitely was.

“They stayed focused throughout. It’s all about belief, they’ve got the skills and the physical capability.”

And Raymond will be hoping for more of the same when the Pats host league leaders Cinderford United on Saturday.

Cinderford are seven points clear of second-placed Frampton Cotterell and Smiths having won 14 of their 15 games, including a 45-26 win over the Pats in early November.

But Raymond is in upbeat mood.

“You never know,” he said. “We beat them in the second half earlier in the season. They scored a lot of tries in the first half but suddenly we realised we could compete with them.”

Cinderford, along with Frampton Cotterell, Smiths and fourth-placed St Mary’s Old Boys, have dominated the newly-formed division this season.

“The four teams at the top seem to be a little bit more established,” said Raymond, who took on the role of head coach at the start of the season. “They’ve got strong, experienced players.

“We’re a young side, most of our players are 18 to 22. They are promising but it takes time to gel.

“It takes time to build up a game-plan and patterns of play, this season has been a building exercise.”

Raymond was previously head coach at the Pats back in the early noughties and he’s relishing his return to the club.

“I’m really enjoying it, they’re a good bunch of lads and we’ve got a really good coaching team,” he said.

Raymond is also a former head coach at Smiths, so he knows plenty about the division.

And he's looking forward to locking horns with Cinderford United coach Paul Morris, someone he knows well from their time together at the Old Pats back in the day.

The Pats’ win at Frampton Cotterell was good news for both Morris and Smiths head coach Ben Parker, of course, as the race for the title hots up in the closing stages of the campaign.

Raymond knows Parker well, both through his time with the Pats and Smiths, and he said: “After the game on Saturday I sent them all a text saying, ‘You’re welcome!’.”