Phoenix RFC - Nick Collins Memorial Match August 22nd

Last Saturday Phoenix RFC got their season under way with the Annual Nick Collin’s Memorial Match at Institute Road Taplow.

Club Captain Edd Dibb was tremendously proud to be fielding a full strength side for this fixture in memory of Phoenix player Nick Collins.

This was a fantastic day for all those associated with Phoenix RFC and the Thames Valley Police RFC. Brilliant sunshine added to the occasion although the ground was a little hard!

The match has become the traditional season opener for Phoenix and is played between Phoenix RFC and Thames Valley Police RFC.
Proceeds from the day went to the Taplow Traffic Charity Trust, which helps children affected by serious toad traffic accidents. Jason Varley kindly offered to officiate on the afternoon and a BBQ and various entertainments were provided for the crowd that gathered.

Coach Paul Jefferies commented that most of the Phoenix players that took the Club through to runner’s up in the Buckinghamshire County Shield last season, narrowly losing in the final to Amersham and Chiltern have been training hard during July and he is certain that they will be in form for this match. In fact he is very impressed with the number of players at training which has exceeded 40 for most training sessions. For the coming season as a whole, Phoenix Club Captain Edd Dibb has his sights set on a top quartile position in the Bucks Berks and Oxon Premier League, having finished mid table last season.

Phoenix kicked off in bright sunshine and immediately put their opponents under pressure forcing a hurried kick to touch. As hosts, Phoenix were able to arrange a team of 40 plus to take on the Police and as the game progressed, the freshness of the home side’s players began to tell. The Phoenix pack drove the Police back and from a ruck just 5 meters out Phoenix no. 8 Charlie Herd was able to break and cleverly slip the ball to La Turner who cut back inside for the opening score of the match. Phoenix were able to maintain their momentum throughout the match mainly due to their superiority in the line-outs and it was only dogged defence from the Police that prevented a rout. Phoenix came close on several occasions but it was left to Lal Turner’s brother Gaw to notch up the home side’s second try almost directly beneath the posts. A third try from Phoenix scrumhalf Dave Harris extended the home side’s lead. Phoenix were clearly in the ascendant and the Police were destined for an afternoon of defence which they managed admirably. Ian Watkinson snatched a try for the visitors but the afternoon and the “Nick Collin’s Shield” belonged to Phoenix with an eventual scoreline of 44-7.

Nick Collins’ parents John and Diane were very impressed with the arrangements and made the presentation to Phoenix Captain on the day Mark Jones.

Phoenix: M Coomber, R Gill, J Richardson, M Jones (Captain), N Wyncombe, D Jones, R Mitchell, C Herd, L Turner, D Symmonds, D Cohane, C Laidlaw, G Turner, M Simpson, A Walsh.
Subs: A Herd, A Bird, K Roche, G Hulse.