Three into two doesn’t go as Old Patesians have found to their cost in South West One East this season.

There have been three standout teams in the division in 2016/17 – Maidenhead, Newbury and the Pats – but only one team can win automatic promotion and only one team can qualify for the end-of-season play-off. Unlike in the Olympics, there is no prize for coming third.

Unfortunately for the Pats, a three-game losing run in March and the start of the April – two of the defeats were against Maidenhead and Newbury – meant they were the team who were left to reflect on what might have been.

But such was the gap between the top three and the rest that the Pats ended their losing streak against fourth-placed Witney in convincing style, walloping them 60-10 at Everest Road.

Coach Craig Jones is remaining upbeat despite the disappointment of missing out on promotion.

“There have been a lot of positives,” he said. “After the previous season when we had so many injuries and unavailabilities and ended up getting relegated, the team could have imploded.

“It’s very easy for teams to continue on a downward run.

“But we didn’t. We regrouped, recruited well and the most pleasing thing is that we consolidated. In the end we were very unfortunate not to be promoted.”

Jones picks out wing Jimmy Gahan, back row Scott Alldritt, utility back Olly Booth, back row turned centre Jack Harrod and fly-half Luke Offa as players who have had a big impact on the club this season.

And he is convinced that the injury to Offa, who likes to play on the front foot, had a big bearing on Pats’ season.

“We were leading three tries to nil against Maidenhead when he went off with a fractured cheekbone and we ended up losing a bonus point in the last play,” Jones said.

“Then we lost to Newbury when a kick went wide right at the finish. They are big moments. We were one of the best teams in the league but the aim next season is to be more consistent and win promotion.”

Whether Jones will be the man to lead another promotion charge is unclear. The club want him to continue but Jones says he will talk with his family before making a decision.

After three seasons as player/coach, he has been able to concentrate on the coaching side this season and has only played when injuries or unavailabilities have dictated.

The fly-half says he has enjoyed being able to focus on the team without the distraction of playing and admits on the rare occasions he has played that he “doesn’t recover as quickly after games as he used to”.

Jones grew up in the Forest of the Dean and had eight seasons with Lydney as well as one with Stroud as a player/coach before switching to the Pats.

It’s a move he does not regret.

“They are a great club,” he said. “The results haven’t always been the best over the past few seasons but everyone has stuck together. There’s a real community feel and everyone is involved. It’s a positive place.”