Risborough 0 Pts - Phoenix 22 Pts

Phoenix kicked off with the considerable slope in their favour and although Risborough drove and recycled reasonably, the Phoenix tackling kept them inside their own half.

It was not long before Phoenix had their own period of possession and although they maintained territorial advantage they were unable to break down the Risborough defence. The Phoenix back row led by captain Dave Harris and crucially assisted by scrum-half Lar Turner cut down the Risborough driving around the base of the scrum. Sadly for Risborough their support when play broke down was not so successful as their driving. For Phoenix, Edd Dibb was driving and breaking the initial tackle well and came close for Phoenix after 20 minutes but it was outside centre Chris Varey who opened the scoring for the visitors soon afterwards with a try in the left-hand corner after Phoenix had run the ball wide. However Phoenix were struggling to make their possession affect the scoreboard. For 15 minutes before half-time, Phoenix were kept under pressure by the marauding Risborough forwards and it was only sterling defence that kept them at bay. To add to Risborough's woes, Turner took a quick tapped penalty just inside his own half ad broke the Risborough defence to feed Watkinson with 10 meters to go and secure a 10 point lead for Phoenix at the break.

But Phoenix had a mere 10 points advantage having had the benefit of the slope and Risborough might have scented an upset had Phoenix not upped their game in the second half. Phoenix moved the ball wide again and Varey obliged with his second try of the match to take Phoenix within 1 try of a fourth successive win bonus. Phoenix kicked Risborough back into their own half on several occasions and with some useful lineout ball launched several attacks on the Risborough line. Dibb drove and rolled around Risborough tackles and Phoenix recycled well making most of the play whist Risborough continued to make pummelling drives that Phoenix cut to pieces. Luke Maundrill made his 1st XV debut and Dave O’Boyle came on for Jason Townsend for his first appearance this season with 10 minutes to go and soon got into the action, scoring the fourth try in the closing minutes of the match. Kieron Roach converted to give Phoenix a well deserved victory.

Next week Phoenix play current League Leaders Stow-on-the-Wold at Institute Road, kick-off 3.00 pm.

Phoenix: J Richardson, R Gill, E Dibb, N Wincomb, A Jones, J Taylor, D Harris (Capt), I Watkinson, L Turner, K Roach, J Townsend, D McMillan, C Varey, R Innes, B Coomber

Subs: L Maundrill, D O’Boyle