Template Method Pattern

I'm not a big fan of the template method pattern, but it is useful.
Usually I apply it only when I have to made a change, and realize, I have to do it at too many places. I don't like it because it is a bit confusing, especially the stack traces.

Here is an example taken from a db connection.

public abstract class Template{
 String sql ;
  Template(String sql){
      this.sql = sql;
  }

public void exec() {
    Statement statement = null;
    ResultSet rs = null;
     try {
        statement = getConnection().createStatement();
        rs = statement.executeQuery(sql);
        execute(rs);
     } catch (SQLException  e) {
        log.error("failed to execute query " + sql);
        throw e;
     } finally {
         if (rs != null) {
            try {
                rs.close();
            } catch (SQLException e) {
                log.error("failed to close result  set");
            }
     }
     if (statement != null) {
          statement.close();
     }
  }
  public abstract  void execute(ResultSet resultSet);
}

The problem lies in retrieving something from the execute method

final List results = new ArrayList();
    Template call = new Template(sql) {

         @Override
         public void execute(ResultSet rs) throws SQLException {
              rs.next();
              Boolean  result = rs.getBoolean("BoolColumn");
               results.add(result);
         }
    };
    call.exec();
boolean result = results.get(0); 

Maybe I missed something, but It is the best way I found for retrieving a value.