LOCAL DERBY AGAINST SLOUGH

Phoenix entertained Slough at their institute road ground on Saturday, with what was going to be a tough bruising game for both sides .Phoenix who had beaten Slough on the last outing knew they would come to Institute road with a well-rehearsed game plan.
Phoenix had planned their VPs day around this game and after having a good feast and a few libations, both Slough and Phoenix
supporters were both looking forward to some entertaining rugby.

Both teams took the field and it was Slough who were quickly on the front foot with a quick ball down there back line saw the left winger make a good break and a chip and chase with just the phoenix full back to beat saw him cross for the opening try and with the added two points put Slough into a very early lead (0-7).

Phoenix were finding it very difficult to get into their stride in this game with Slough repelling them at every opportunity, with the Slough back row working hard to earn their team a multitude of turnovers .

Slough soon found themselves on the front foot again and a quick rucked ball caught the Phoenix defence out and there Flanker found a gap and run in unopposed. (0-14)

Phoenix now had to find some stability to get back into this game and some good lineout ball from both the Phoenix jumpers saw Phoenix catch and drive 30 meters up the pitch, but once again the ball was spilt and the momentum was lost.

Again Slough break the Phoenix line through there flanker, with another phase through the forwards and with the Phoenix full back having to deal with a 2 on 1 sees the right winger cross for the third try (0-19).

Finally Phoenix began to put some phases together and a quick break from the Phoenix scrum half D Harris sees him make 30 yards into the Slough 22 and a last ditch tackle stops him short of the line.

With Phoenix being penalised time and again saw the momentum swing back in favour of Slough and time and again they cleared there lines, a line out on the Phoenix 22 after a long touch find, saw the ball knocked on by a Slough forward and the referee allowing the Slough left winger pick up and force his way over to give Slough a convincing lead and one which Phoenix was never going to recover. (0-26)

A final passage of play from Phoenix saw the no 10 Jason Townsend Run a good line and cross for Phoenix for their only try of the game.

A further Late try from Slough sees the final score (5-31).

Team L Piemontesi P Hilling S Hyland A Jones L Ablott J Willis T Porter J Robinson.
D Harris J Townsend E Doherty I Watkinson F Alderman A McKeown J Kilby
Subs, M Lloyd M Andrews K Nash