UNSTOPPABLE PHOENIX I

Phoenix travelled to Harwell on Saturday for there penultimate game in BBO Championship.

Phoenix who had been crowned champions in their previous game v Littlemore again went into this game with high hopes after beating Harwell in the last two visits.

From the outset Phoenix wanted to play a wide game against the opposition and the first ten minutes saw Phoenix attacking the Harwell back line at every opportunity, but was unable to convert the pressure into points.

Harwell were beginning to grow in confidence disrupting the Phoenix possession and beginning to put them on the back foot, forcing fly half K Roach to kick, a clever kick into open space saw winger J Townsend score his first try, a mix up in the Harwell defence allowed him a gift of a try to put Phoenix 0-5 in the lead.

Phoenix were finding it hard to settle into their game plan with Harwell again disrupting the ruck area but a ruck on the Harwell 22 saw there flanker penalised and a penalty awarded , a quick tap from scrum half Tom Pell saw him cross for the second[ 0-10}.

Although Phoenix were having all the play it was Harwell who scored next through there big forwards driving hard at the Phoenix line and although it looked like they had been held up the try was awarded [5-10].

Again Phoenix regrouped and it was not long before they had crossed again through J Townsend for his second of the day and the conversation by N Coltman gave them some breathing space. [5-17]

Phoenix started the second half with a bit more determination and aggression, playing a lot tighter and with more phases, this change began to pay dividends and with a fantastic run from outside centre Bradley Coomber (Yoda) saw him weave his way through several tacklers and score for 30 yards out (5-24).

Phoenix were now completely in the driving seat and with the Harwell team beginning to tire this allowed Phoenix to open the game up and it was that winger J Townsend who crossed for his third, a quick ball went wide and with Prop M Lloyd as the link man had only to draw the defender and pass for an easy run in (5-31).

The final try came from a sharp move from Scrum half T Pell who found space on the blind side within the Harwell 22 and weaved his way over for his second and a convincing win for Phoenix (5-36).

Team: J Dixon R Gill S Hyland N Coltman A Jones J Dean J Willis T Porter T Pell K Roche J Townsend J Winters B Coomber N Coventry A Leavy A Bird J Robinson M Lloyd C Russell.

Phoenix play their final game against newly promoted Didcot who lie in Second place K O 3.00 PM Saturday 23rd April at their Institute Road ground .