TWO POINT DEFECIT COSTS PHOENIX

Phoenix entertained Abingdon at their ground in Institute road on Saturday, after a very close game against their local rivals Slough in the cup last week, Phoenix felt they could maybe get a result from this game.

Having two good training sessions this week the Phoenix spirits were very high going into this game.

From the outset Phoenix took the game to Abingdon and time and again was creating good passages of play, but was finding it difficult to turn the pressure into points.

With both sides sounding each other out the game went from end to end with neither side managing to get on the score board
The opening try came from a good drive from the Phoenix forwards and a quick ruck saw the ball go wide to Jason Townsend who made a clever weaving run through the Abingdon back line and with his pace scored the opening try for Phoenix in the 20th minute (0-5).

Both sides were locked in horns as they game swung one way then the other with both sides’ defences not giving any side. Abingdon were beginning to gain some momentum and it was not long before they breached what had been a very solid defence and the Abingdon Full back went in (5-5)

Again phoenix hit back with a try from the ever present captain Tom porter who sold an outrageous dummy (which even most of the supports bought) and crossed for Phoenix second and the conversation from J Townsend put Phoenix into a seven point led (12-5).
Phoenix were now beginning to dominate the play with some good strikes against the head from hooker Paul hilling, but some strange decisions from the referee allowed the Abingdon front row to drop the scrum and the reset went in their favour.

The second half became a more indiscipline affair with both sides being penalised for various infringements, and the referee showing cards to a Phoenix player and the Abingdon no 8, this forced both sides to reshuffle which unbalanced Phoenix play and allowed the Abingdon to get back into the game, a good drive from there forwards was held up just short of the line, from the ruck their big second rower picked up and drove for the line, with Phoenix unable to hold him up , this allowed Abingdon to get themselves back into the game (12.10).

Again Phoenix now back to full strength started to dominate the play and it was not long before the Phoenix were again on the scoreboard. A good drive from the forwards and a snipping run from man of the match Frank Alderman saw him set up a good ruck 20 meters out and with a three on two created saw Fly half Jason Townsend cross for his second (17-10).

Again ill-discipline was beginning to creep into the game from both sides, and another infringement saw Phoenix increase their lead with a penalty from N Coltman who calmly slotted the kick and a 10 point lead for Phoenix. (20-10)

With 15 minutes remaining Phoenix had to maintain the tempo and keep Abingdon at bay, but then disaster struck when the referee sin binned two Phoenix players in a matter of minutes, this was to be Phoenix fate as Abingdon began to create good opportunities, with Phoenix being two men down were finding it difficult to contain the opposition and the inevitable happened with a try from the Abingdon winger getting them get back in the game (20-15)

In the dying minutes Phoenix turned a good ball over and drove up field but again Abingdon were off their feet and all over the ball on the ground the referee award a penalty to Abingdon who quickly threw the ball wide to an unmarked winger who raced in to score, it was all on the final kick and the scrum half cleanly slotted the kick to rob Phoenix of a hard fought game (20-22).

Team:
Luca Piemontesi P Hilling S Hyland A Anderton A Jones J Willis T Porter M Andrews
F Alderman J Townsend J Winters R McGregor J Atkins M Lloyd J Kilby N Pidgeon A McKeown N Coltman