Injury problems mounting not good preparation for playing old enemies

Drifters visited Phoenix last Saturday and although riding high in second place only on points were determined to consolidate their position. In the event they gained a useful 55 points difference to narrow the Thatcham lead in The Bucks Berks and Oxon Premier League. Phoenix have this season but have also completed the first round of matches against the top five teams in the league including Drifters and Thatcham away. Unfortunately the injury list has mounted for the Taplow side and as a result the performances have suffered. A graduate from the Phoenix Youth Section, Ben Wood made his debut for Phoenix first XV at full-back replacing the injured Jason Townsend.
Phoenix got things underway in front of 50 plus Phoenix Vice Presidents who had attended their first Vice President’s Lunch of the season. They were entertained to some excellent running rugby unfortunately to the benefit of the opposition. But it was Phoenix who made the initial charge as they pressed Drifters on their own line and gained a five meter scrummage in the opening minutes. Unfortunately the home side were unable to maintain the pressure and Drifters cleared their lines with a penalty. With the match 10 minutes old, Drifters managed to release their rather rapid three-quarters and scored midway out on the right. A second try followed in similar manner shortly afterwards as Phoenix were struck by the pace of the Drifters line. But Phoenix pressured Drifters with some ferocious tackling. Roach at scrumhalf excelled with second row Alex Jones continuing his good form to cause Drifters some problems. But Phoenix were unable to develop any continuity. They took quick penalties and occasionally caught Drifters out but the recycling did not go well and too many times Drfiters came away with the ball. Dibb drove around the fringes and Watkinson made the most of the loose with Tim Morgan in the back row gaining in stature from his third match in the Phoenix first XV. Nevertheless Drifters withstood the strong Phoenix tackling and were able to make the most of open play. Two more tries took Drifters to a 30 point lead at the break.
Watkinson crossed for Phoenix from close range after taking a quick tapped penalty and driving over. In the process Watkinson became injured and had to be replaced by Prop forward Jamie Willis. His caused more disruption to the Phoenix side as James Richardson moved to centre. Although Phoenix maintained some solid aggressive defence, the open play superiority of Drifters continued to accumulate points regularly through the second half. In the end Phoenix had used all three replacements and then lost fly-half Will Ballantyne to injury in the closing minutes to finish the game with 14 players.
A sound victory for Drifters but Phoenix showed improvement on their early season displays. Phoenix train every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 7.00 p.m. at their grounds in Institute road Taplow see www.phoenixrfc.com for further information.
Next weekend Phoenix entertain Hungerford at Institute Road, kick-off 2.30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Phoenix: E Dibb, S Smith, J Richardson, A Jones, N Wyncombe, I Watkinson, T Morgan, J Constable, K Roach, W Ballantyne, J Winters, A McMillan, R Inness, M Lloyd, B Wood.
Subs: J Moseley, C Varey, J Willis.