MINCHINHAMPTON Colts won a thrilling 34-33 encounter against Old Pats to win the County Cup Plate Final on Sunday.

Playing on the 4G pitch at Hartpury, Minch opened the scoring with a fine long range penalty by captain Johnny Kite and it was only in the dying minutes of the game that the importance of this kick was realised

Minch built on this lead with an excellent back moves that saw Harry Lightfoot touch down under the posts and with Kite converting, Minch took a 10-0 lead

Their next try would be a candidate for try of the season as back-row Harry Chase launched an attack from inside his own 22, scrum – half James Evans fed fly-half Kite whose well executed chip kick was collected by Lightfoot who fed Arthur Mills who then released Jack Corry to score under the posts and with a successful Kite conversion Minch led 17-0 and looked like running way with the game.

However. a yellow card to the impressive and hardworking Zin Zan Cremins saw Old Pats gain a foothold in the game and score a well-deserved try before Lightfoot claimed his second try converted by Kite to give Minch a half-time lead of 24-7

The second-half was a different story with Old Pats working their way back into the game, but further tries from Jack Richards and Jack Corry saw Minch going in to the last 10 minutes with a 15 point lead, but the game had one further twist as Minch were given three yellow cards in succession and as the pressure mounted Old Pats scored two unanswered tries to leave the Minch nerves jangling as they hung on for a well-deserved point win.