Old Patesians still have plenty to play for as they look ahead to the final weeks of the rugby season.

The Counties 3 Gloucestershire North title winners are through to the quarter-finals of the Papa John’s Community Cup South Shield after their 52-10 win at Cornish side St Just on Saturday, and they are also involved in the Cheltenham Combination’s end-of-season Junior Cup competition.

The knockout competitions are very much a bonus for the Pats after they saw off the challenge of Stroud and Gloucester Old Boys to claim the Counties 3 Gloucestershire North title.

Their 84-14 final-day win at Fairford took them above their two big rivals and ensured they will be playing in Counties 2 Gloucestershire North next season.

But it was the 39-29 win over long-time leaders Stroud at Everest Road the previous week that was the crucial game, something that director of rugby Chris Downes readily acknowledges.

“That game was a fantastic spectacle, both teams played good rugby,” said Downes.

“It went to the final game but we got over the line. We always had games in hand, although you’d always rather have the points on the board.

“I’m delighted that our young team have experienced the joy of winning a league.”

Stroud finished second so will accompany Pats into Counties 2 Gloucestershire North and Downes is looking forward to locking horns with the likes of Smiths and Cheltenham North in 2023/24.

“There will be some good games against some strong Gloucester teams and some strong Cheltenham teams,” said Downes. “It’s what community rugby is all about, you play your nearest and dearest and then have a drink with them afterwards.”

Pats, of course, dropped three divisions at the end of last season – Stroud did the same the previous year – and Downes continued: “You can only play what is in front of you. It’s been a long, hard year, all the changes over the past year have been tough.

“We want to play competitive rugby at as high a level as we can, but we have to be realistic where that is.

“This season it was level 9, next season it will be level 8.

“We are a community rugby club who do the best we can to provide an environment where people can enjoy themselves and express themselves.

“Winning the title is great but we are a community rugby club.”

Old Patesians host Actonians in the Papa John’s Community Cup on Saturday, the same day that they play their Combination Junior Cup semi-final at Stow-on-the-Wold 2nds.

Actonians, who play in Counties 3 Herts/Middx of the London and South East Division, won three of their 10 league games this season.

Cheltenham Combination results
Junior Cup
Stow-on-the-Wold 2nds v Tewkesbury, HWO
Cheltenham North 2nds 12 Smiths 2nds 26

Minor Shield
Smiths 3rds v Gloucestershire Police, HWO
Cheltenham 3rds 41 Old Patesians 2nds 29

Saturday’s fixtures
Senior Cup semi-finals
Cheltenham North v Stow-on-the-Wold
Smiths v Cheltenham

Junior Cup semi-finals
Smiths 2nds v Cheltenham 2nds
Stow-on-the-Wold 2nds v Old Patesians

Minor Shield semi-finals
Tewkesbury 2nds v Smiths 3rds
Cheltenham 3rds v Cheltenham Civil Service/Norton Combined