Phoenix rise again!

Thatcham, who are lying 4th in the league and looking an even bet for promotion visited Phoenix last Saturday who are beginning to reconstruct their season after a difficult start and are currently languishing close to bottom but keen to put the early season disappointments behind them.

Phoenix captain Ian Watkinson worked hard to re-focus his team during the week after the rest week and was seeking an effective performance.
Thatcham looked busy and lively in the warm up and were sure to test Phoenix to the full. From the kick-off, Phoenix gathered well and recycled to put Thatcham back inside their own half. Phoenix were on the front foot when Tom Jost drove into the Thatcham defence but the ball went forward on the Thatcham 22 and the chance was lost. With Phoenix off-side at the scrummage, Thatcham took a quick penalty and swiftly moved the ball wide to open the scoring with a try wide out on the right with the match just 4 minutes old. Such was the clinical execution by Thatcham one feared the worse for the home side but Phoenix have developed an inner strength and struck back soon afterwards.

The Phoenix pack had the better of Thatcham in all phases which did much to prevent much of the threat from the sharp Thatcham threequarters. When Thatcham did get possession, the McMillan brothers at centre cut them down with some excellent tackling. From a scrummage just outside the Thatcham 22, Phoenix moved the ball out and Townsend entered the line from full-back and out-paced the Thatcham defence to score the opening try for Phoenix, but with the conversion going wide, reduced the deficit to just 2 points. Within minutes, Thatcham had re-entered the Phoenix 22 and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts – Thatcham 10 points, Phoenix 5.

The Phoenix pack began to assert themselves around the loose scrum and tested the Thatcham defence to the full. Mark Jones left the field with a badly cut head and was replaced by the versatile James Dixon at No. 8. After a period of continuous pressure on the Thatcham line, Phoenix elected to take a scrummage from the penalty and Dixon took the ball and fed Ian Watkinson who crashed over to take the lead for his side. The conversion was good and Phoenix found themselves 2 points ahead midway through the first half.

Phoenix began to take the ball on in the pack which was growing in confidence as the match progressed. However, mistakes still occurred and Phoenix found themselves back on their own 22 after a single mistake whilst attacking on the Thatcham 22. This proved crucial and Thatcham took full advantage, moving the ball out wide and crashing over for their second try and retake the lead at 17 points to 12. Just before half time however, Phoenix broke clean through when Lar Turner weaved his way through the Thatcham defence taking play from the Phoenix 22 up to the Thatcham 22. Unfortunately an interception caught Phoenix wrong footed and the Thatcham wing threequarter raced the length of the field to score wide out on the left. The conversion was struck and Thatcham took a useful 12 point lead. But Phoenix were not finished.
Dave McMillan drove through at centre and gained a penalty for a high tackle that Jason Townsend converted to reduce the deficit at the break.
Phoenix concentrated on the pack as the second half got underway. But an injury to prop Matt Simpson saw substitute Billy Duncan enter the fray. This did nothing to upset the Phoenix pack that was now beginning to take command. Flankers Dave Harris and Ian Watkinson gave the Thatcham half backs much to think about if they won possession and then the partnership of the McMillan brothers at centre took over and more often than not demolished any Thatcham attacking moves. Lar Turner was deadly with his tackling from any restart and this immediately put Thatcham on the back foot.

The combined effect of the Phoenix back row, Dave Harris, Ian Watkinson and replacement Billy Duncan and the second row powerhouse of Neil Wincombe and Alan Bird did the rest to secure possession. Lar Turner made the most of the possession and Kieran Roche at fly-half varied his game, taking the ball on several times. Phoenix set up camp on the Thatcham line but were met with committed defence and were unable to score. Thatcham relieved the threat when Phoenix knocked on in sight of the Thatcham line. Phoenix however, visibly lifted their game at this stage and took the ball on from a lineout just outside the Thatcham 22 and Dave McMillan crashed over to take Phoenix to within 4 points of Thatcham with the general momentum of the game in their favour. Thatcham had little to offer, once they were stopped by the McMillan central defence and as the Phoenix pack began to control proceedings even more comprehensively it became a matter of time before Phoenix would score again.

The threat however of a Thatcham breakaway was always present and kept everyone on their toes. The Phoenix pack took the match to Thatcham on the Thatcham line and Edd Dibb was driven over by his pack to claim the score that put Phoenix in the lead. An excellent conversion from Townsend took Phoenix 3 points clear. As the match entered its closing stage. Thatcham regrouped however and put Phoenix under severe pressure in the closing stages but without the forward power to control their own ball and a hint of panic down their three-quarter line, the match went to Phoenix when they drove on in the lineout until time when Watkinson gladly raced over the touch line to finish the game. Phoenix Man of The Match Dave Harris commented that it has taken some time to get things together but believed the team were now getting things together.

Phoenix train every Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7.00 p.m. at their grounds in Institute road Taplow see www.phoenixrfc.com for further information. Next weekend Phoenix travel to Gosford All Blacks in the Bucks Berks and Oxon Premier League, kick-off 3.00 p.m. everyone is welcome.

Phoenix: Edd Dibb, Steve Smith, Matt Simpson, Neil Wincombe, Alan Bird, Ian Watkinson (Captain), Mark Jones, Dave Harris, Lar Turner, Kieran Roche, Dave McMillan, Adam McMillan, Tom Jost, Rob Innes, Jason Townsend.
Subs: Bill Duncan, James Dixon, Gaw Turner