Phoenix 15 pts Gosford All Blacks 25 pts

Phoenix were without captain Constable and second row Neil Wyncombe in the pack for this league match. The Phoenix pack as a result was short of weight and struggled to hold Gosford All Blacks. In the lineout however, Tim Morgan and Nigel Coltman succeeded in gaining useful ball for their three-quarters where Bradley Coomber had been installed at centre.
Gosford got things underway but found themselves driven back to their own 22 where they crept off-side and Phoenix gained an early penalty chance. The conversion looked good but was disallowed by the referee as the Gosford touch judge was undecided. But soon Gosford had a penalty chance in a very kickable position but failed to convert it. The Phoenix pack was having difficulty holding the heavier Gosford outfit in the tight scrums but doing well at the lineout where Coltman and Morgan gained useful possession. On the half hour however, Gosford managed to stretch Phoenix and cross wide out on the left for their opening try. An excellent conversion gave them a 7 point lead that was extended a few moments later to when Phoenix failed to control their own lineout ball and from the ensuing scrummage, Gosford drove over in the corner. A second touchline conversion gave Gosford a comfortable 14 point lead as half-time approached. But Phoenix had other ideas and kept driving at the Gosford defence. Phoenix put a kickable penalty into the corner and from the lineout Duncan Wardle drove over to open their scoring just before the break.

Early in the second half, Gosford slotted a penalty to take them into a 12 point lead, before Phoenix brought on Dave McMillan at centre for the injured Adam McMillan. Phoenix began to use their threequarter line and found some penetration. Good passing between Coomber, Richardson and McMillan enabled Coomber to take Phoenix deep inside Gosford territory with a 40 meter break, this forced some hurried defence from the visitors and from the ensuing lineout, James Dixon crashed over for Phoenix’ second try. Soon after, Chris Harrison came on to replace James Richardson, and Phoenix began to use their threequarters a little more - Coomber broke through from his own 22 into Gosford’s 22 but unfortunately the ball went loose and Gosford drove back upfield into Phoenix territory. Gosford were controlling the set scrums and again moved the ball swiftly wide to round the Phoenix defence and score another try in the corner. This time the kick went wide but still left Phoenix with a 12 point deficit which became 15 points after a Gosford penalty with just 5 minutes remaining. A floated pass from Kieron Roach enabled Coomber to break through and score from 60 meters to take his side to 15 points. A fourth bonus point try was achievable as Phoenix began to find openings in the Gosford defence although time was running out. As Phoenix moved the ball wide, Coltman charged for the line but was dragged down 2 feet short of what would have been 4 bonus points for Phoenix just before the referee brought proceedings to a close.