Aldermaston RFC 5 - Phoenix RFC 31

Phoenix climbed to fourth in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Championship with an impressive away win against Aldermaston on Saturday (17 November).

The Taplow-based club produced arguably their best performance of the season in a game that saw them cross the whitewash five times.

Aldermaston were put under pressure straight from kick-off when the Phoenix forward pack rumbled forward with a series of strong carries.

This early dominance resulted in a scrum deep into the Aldermaston 22 from which debutant number 8 Pete Chapman bulldozed over for a converted try.

Phoenix were soon 0-12 in front after a flowing passing move saw outside centre Bradley Coomber touch down in the corner for his fifth try in three games.

Despite missing two of their first-choice front row, the Phoenix pack continued to secure good ball. This dominance up front provided the space for the backs to unleash full back Simon Lerigo to dive over for a well-worked try.

The home side responded with a score of their own. Several phases inside the 22 brought them within touching distance of the Phoenix tryline before hooker Luke Lambden crashed over to reduce arrears to 5-17 at half-time.

However, any hopes of a comeback for the home side were short-lived. Not long after the restart, Coomber broke through a weary-looking home defence before offloading to player-coach Tony Porter for the simplest of scores.

Phoenix continued to crank up the pressure and kicked to the corner having won a penalty on the Aldermaston 22.

From the resulting line-out, forwards and backs combined for a driving maul, which saw substitute Mikey Lloyd emerge from a pile of bodies with ball in hand to claim the game’s final try.

Elsewhere, Phoenix II travelled to Hungerford II, where they were soundly beaten 62-24.

Phoenix entertain table-topping Chipping Norton on Saturday 24 November.