Phoenix 15 pts Slough 39 pts

League positions were largely set for the season with Slough runners up to Alchester and Phoenix languishing towards the bottom of their league.
The result therefore would not affect anything and as a result Slough chucked the ball around and Phoenix defended strongly for most of the match.
Phoenix got things got under way however and Slough failed to control the ball and Watkinson gathered for Phoenix, drove on and released to Wardle who fed Ansell for the chip through and Slough knocked on in defence. A superb start for Phoenix turned into a nightmare as they failed to take their own scrummage at the first attempt and Slough kicked through to the Phoenix 22.
Slough were clearly in the ascendancy in the early stages and Phoenix struggled to contain them. In addition, Phoenix failed to hang on to possession for any length of time, kicking out of defence and suffering the counter-attack from Slough. Nevertheless, Slough did not find an easy route through the Phoenix defence. But from a Phoenix lineout, Slough stole possession and drove through to the Phoenix line and from the ensuing scrummage, Slough crashed over for their opening try. Phoenix came back strongly but a penalty for a late charge gave Slough a penalty inside the Phoenix 22 and they duly crashed over for a second try with the match just 15 minutes old. Phoenix made their mark however and pressed Slough back into their own territory but were unable to maintain possession to bother the scoreboard. Slough began to run the ball from all parts of the field and stretched the Phoenix defence. A try from the Slough fly-half was met with the second of three yellow cards handed out to Slough players during the afternoon but they still went into the break with a 29 point advantage.
Phoenix regrouped and through the boot of Will Ballantyne soon opened their account as the second half got under way. A break through the Slough defence by Phoenix full back Matt Hood who stretched his legs to beat the Slough defence for pace and score in the corner. A Slough reply with another try ensured that no surprises would occur but Phoenix kept their game up. Jason Townsend and Matt Symmonds came on for the home side as Phoenix rang the changes. Matt Ansell grubbed through for a fine individual try beneath the posts to take Phoenix to 15 points but Slough finished things off with their final try to make the score 39 –15.
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Phoenix do not play next weekend but on April 30th they go on tour to Brighton.
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Phoenix: Edd Dibb, James Dean, James Richardson, Alistaire Bilson, Duncan Wardle, Nigel Coltman, Mark Jones, Ian Watkinson (Captain), Kieron Roach, Will Ballantyne, James Constable, Matt Ansell, Adam McMillan, Wilf Midlane, Matt Hood.
Subs: Matt Symmonds, Jason Townsend, Jamie Willis.

Other Results:
Abbingdon 1st XV 46pts Phoenix 2nd XV 0 pts