PHOENIX STRIKES AGAIN

Phoenix entertained Oxford at their Institute Road base on Saturday hoping to maintain their run of winning games and their dominance at the top of the league.

Phoenix went into this game with a side having to make several changes from last week’s selection against Harwell but the spirits were high as kick off loomed.

From the outset, Phoenix wanted to play a wide game against their opponents knowing they had fared well in the previous game back in November where Phoenix were again victors 0-63 in a very wet and windy day .

Phoenix took the field and showed their intensions very early on with the whole Phoenix back line on fire and was opening the Oxford side time and again.

With the ever present K Roach and A Walsh both out through injury A Leavy and T Pell stepped up to play half backs and with the very influential D Harris moving into back row as flanker .

It was not long before A Leavy was on the score sheet as he showed his pace and glided through the Oxford defence to open the scoring (0-5).

Although Phoenix were very dominate in there approach to this game , credit must go to Oxford who never gave up trying and some good runs from there full back and left winger that had Phoenix on the back foot but the cover defence for the Phoenix back row halted the Oxford repost .

Phoenix next try came from a clever kick from full back J Townsend and a bad mix up in the Oxford defence saw the Phoenix right winger C Russell never give up the chase and his determination was rewarded with a try (12-0).

From the kick off Phoenix went again on the attack and a ghostly run from the outstanding Phoenix outside centre (B. Yoda Coomber) saw him cross for the first of his two tries and a commanding lead after 20 minutes (19-0).

Phoenix were now relentless with the play with the forwards putting the Oxford scrum and lineout under immense pressure with some good lineout play from the returning 2nd rower A Jones and with some front steals from the Phoenix hooker R Gill saw him make good ground and again a quick rucked ball allowed the backs to run a sweeping move in which C Russell crossed for his second (26-0)

The second half went in the same vain as the first with Phoenix being relentless in there play, a quick flat ball from the scrum half saw A Leavy making a decisive break and an inside pass to skipper T Porter saw him with a clear run to the line (33-0)

Again some good driving play from the Phoenix pack managed to get in behind the Oxford defence and another quick ball and a back line move found its way in to the hands of debutant winger, A McKeown saw him cross for his first try for the First team (50-0).

With Further tries from A Leavy, B Coomber J Winters and D Harris ended a dominating game from Phoenix who were again in a ruthless mood and secured there spot at the top of the league . (76-0)

The next league game for Phoenix is a top of table clash with Didcot on 20th Feb.

Team
James Dixon, Robin Gill, Sean Flynn, Alex Jones, Alan Bird, Dave Harris, Jamie Willis, Tom Porter (Capt)
Tom Pell, Austin Leavy, C Russell, John Winters, Bradley Coomber, Nick Coventry, Jason Townsend, Oliver Brickley, Alex McKeown, Billy Duncan