Fighting draw for Firsts

Phoenix Captain Ian Watkinson required every ounce of effort from his squad against Gosford All Backs last week end and he most certainly got it. Phoenix travelled to Gosford with a fully repaired Robin Gill at hooker and James Richardson at inside centre to partner Tom Jost who has displayed several moments of dominance to create openings for Phoenix this season with clever running lines. His reading of the game has also prevented a fistful of tries through his cover tackling.
Phoenix got proceedings underway and it quickly became clear that Gosford had extremely quick wing three-quarters. Within the opening minutes, Tom Jost drove the Gosford winger into touch just a few inches short of the line to save what looked like a certain try. A penalty goal in front of the posts gave Gosford the league however a few minutes later. Phoenix attacked inside the Gosford 22 and were unlucky when Gosford intercepted a Phoenix try scoring pass to race the length of the field to score beneath the posts. The conversion was a formality for Gosford and Phoenix were 10 points down half way through the first half. The breakaways belonged to Gosford but it was Phoenix who were controlling things up front. In the lineout Alex Jones and partner Nigel Coltman secured much useful ball for their side. In the scrums, prop forwards Edd Dibb and veteran Alan Herd made sure Phoenix remained on the front foot and James Constable at No. 8 ensured that Phoenix had good possession and drove into the Gosford defence. Phoenix took play into the Gosford 22 and from a forward drive Edd Dibb squeezed his way over from close range to claw back 5 points for the visitors just before the break.
With the wind in their faces, one thought that Phoenix had lost their chance when the Gosford wing threequarter gathered a loose ball and raced through to extend the Gosford lead to 12 points. The Phoenix pack began to assert themselves and Gosford began to find things difficult even with the wind at their backs and were unable to clear their lines effectively. With the wind in their faces, Phoenix tore into the Gosford defence. James Richardson began to expose holes in the Gosford threequarter line for Phoenix and with strong support from Tom Jost at outside centre, Gosford began to suffer. Richardson broke through at centre and wriggled his way through the Gosford defence to score beneath the posts to reduce the Phoenix deficit to 5 points as the reliable Nigel Coltman slotted the conversion. Gosford still tried to release their pace on the wings and again it was Tom Jost for Phoenix who prevented a potentially match winning try with a tackle in the corner. Phoenix cleared their lines from the lineout and regained their dominance to pressure Gosford inside their 22. A scrumage 10 meters out was driven on by the dominant Phoenix pack led by Edd Dibb and Phoenix man of the match James Constable picked up and drove over to level the scores with a try in the corner. Coltman’s conversion attempt unfortunately went wide and Phoenix were left with their third draw of the season.
Captain Ian Watkinson was pleased with his side’s performance although he said he would have preferred the win, which was clearly achievable, but the team was progressing well and with perhaps more consistency of selection they will respond. Chief Coach Paul Jefferies was proud of the effort that his players had put in. There were still some issues to correct in training but by and large the team had performed well and will eventually reap their just rewards. 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.
Phoenix: E Dibb, C Harrison, A Herd, A Jones, N Coltman, R Gill, T Morgan, J Constable, L Saunders, K Roach, J Richardson, T Jost, C Clarke, A McMillan, R Inness.
Subs: I Watkinson.